Achilles Tendon Structure

Hamstring Strains (HS) are identified by acute pain in the thigh with disruption of the muscle fibres, with 47% of all HS studies stating that the BF muscle is affected (3). This can be explained because the BF muscle tendon and muscle fibres are where the most common distribution of the ground force produced during running (3). Eccentric contraction is explained by a study from Guex (4) stating that between 75-85% of the running cycle the hamstrings are undergoing an active lengthening contraction. Having this amount of eccentric contraction upon the muscles has the potential to cause an overuse injury (4). At 85% of the running cycle, the SM, ST, and BF are stretched by 8.7-12.0% which is beyond their optimum lengths (4).

Dr. Delp’s research analyzes muscle movement, structure, and purpose with the use of model simulations mechanisms and other software technology. In Running with a load increases leg stiffness, it is identified that added loads to the body impacts running posture, causing crouching of the body, and does contribute to higher leg stiffness. In line with Dr. Delp’s talk today of the “Dynamics of walking and running,” a comparison is established between both types of movement and the authors delve into how each are impacted when under a load (ranging from 10-30% body fat). Subjects walking and running under a load, compared to zero load, were to found to have longer ground

Each participant was diagnosed with chronic unilateral mid-line achilles tendiopathy using valid and reliable tests (palpation, Arc sign, and Royal London Test) by the lead investigator of the study. Excluded from the study were athletes, individuals diagnosed with paratendinopathy of the achilles, and individuals with metabolic disorders.

Sometimes your tendon cell can get damaged but if it does happen it will be replaced with an even stronger one.

Majority of sports injuries are muscular strains of the lower limb. These injuries make up a third of all sports referrals to sports physicians and their frequency and disabling effect is well documented according to recent literature. The most common muscular strains of the lower limb are hamstring strains which accounts for 12-16% of all injuries in athletes with a re-injury rate of 22-34% in a much recent research. Although systematic epidemiological studies within athletics are scarce, testimonies from coaches and athletes are consentient, pointing to a high frequency of hamstring injuries, especially in sprinting. Throughout the last several decades, several serious attempts have been made to understand the cause of hamstring muscle strain

Implementing cross training modalities as a form of injury prevention is a common practice among endurance runners. Lower extremity injury rates among runners have been observed at rates between 19.4% and 79.3% annually, specifically categorized as chronic overuse injuries (van Gent, et al., 2007; Hoeberigs, J.H., 1992). Additionally, it is suggested that approximately 60% of chronic injuries can be attributed to increasing training volume too suddenly (Hreljac, 2004). It has been thought that multiple different cross training modalities can be a reasonable low-impact substitute of aerobic exercise (Burns, & Lauder, 2001; Lu, Chien and Chen, 2007; Kilding, Scott, and Mullineax, 2007). Many methods of cross training have been used as a substitute to running, including elliptical exercise (EE), deep water running (DWR), swimming, and stationary cycling (Foster et al., 1995; Lu et al., 2007; Pizza et al., 1995; Sozen, 2010). When coaches and rehabilitation specialists prescribe certain forms of cross training, many factors must be considered when deciding which will be most beneficial. The specificity of training principles suggests that relevant activities should be done in order to gain results in the primary activity. Cross training is an activity that is used to improve the performance of one sport by training in an additional one, contrary to what the specificity principle would imply for preferred practices (Kilding, Scott, & Mullineaux, 2007; Masumoto, Bryon, & Mercer,

The differing results are likely because of differences in skill level among test subjects, methods of evaluation, and erratic sprint distances. The main strength qualities being explored in this data analysis are: absolute strength, relative strength, high-load speed strength, and low-load speed strength. Every sport requires several combinations of these strength qualities to be successful (13). Absolute strength is the measurement of how much force a subject can exert with no regard to body size (3). Relative strength is the measurement of strength to body size. High-load speed strength is the ability for the muscle to exert a high amount of force while contracting at a high speed. The tests to gauge high-load speed strength are typically short in nature, executed at maximal speeds, and produce high power outputs, and include exercises such as the power clean, snatch, and push jerk (1). Triple extension of the hips, knees, and ankles during these movements allows the athletes to express force against the ground rapidly. Low-load speed strength involves low velocity movements, and is a quality that “reflects the dynamic abilities necessary for sport. They are the maximal strength tests of choice for strength and conditioning professionals”

Tendonitis is usually not related to any specific injury, but instead is linked to the overuse and stress on the Achilles tendon. People who participate in things such as running, gymnastics, dance, baseball, basketball, etc. are putting a great amount of stress on their Achilles tendon. As you grow older the Achilles tendon weakens which causes it to become more prone to injury. Stress on the Achilles may also be due to:

Proprioceptive rehabilitation methods look to return the ankle to its previous risk factor level, and return it to its previous function level. Scott et. al (1997) says that afferent feedback to the brain and spinal pathways is mediated by skin, articular, and muscle mechanoreceptors. Rehabilitation aims to re-establish those spinal pathways so that movements can be performed fully again. Scott et. al (1997) believes that rehabilitation programs should be designed to include a proprioceptive component that addresses the following three levels of motor control: spinal reflexes, cognitive programming, and brainstem activity. A program which is set out in this way is highly recommended to promote and return dynamic joint and functional stability. Another study, conducted by Lephart (1995), examined the role of proprioceptive training in the treatment of injuries, and also looked at recent developments in the area of proprioceptive rehabilitation methods. Lephart (1995) notes that ligaments play a major role in normal joint kinematics, providing mechanical restraint to abnormal joint movement when a stress is placed on the joint. Following injury to these tissues there is a loss of mechanical stability to the joint, resulting in changes to normal kinematics. Management of these sport-related injuries focuses on restoring joint kinematics by enhancing muscular stabilisation through rehabilitation. By restoring joint stability through rehabilitation, the athlete should be able to return to playing sport, while the chance of re-injury will be reduced. Some believe that rehabilitation of ankle injuries should be set and individualised for each athlete as no athlete or injury is the same, and react differently to different exercises. Carl (2002) said that in the acute phase, the focus should be on controlling the inflammation and once pain is gone and

“Structural imbalances, such as having one leg shorter than another, bio-mechanical issues experiencing a severe weakness in a certain muscle group”. “Progressing their training volume and running speeds at a pace that their body is not ready to handle. Or, as coach Jay Johnson would technically define it, “metabolic fitness precedes structural readiness”. He then says “As a running coach, I deal in both of these injury realities and have confronted both in my own running career. As I mentioned before, there is no doubt biomechanical and structural deficiencies are an important part of the equation. However, this post will focus on the importance of proper training progression since structural imbalances are something that need to be addressed outside the training cycle, is a slow process, and often requires the help of a good physical therapist, podiatrist, or chiropractor.” I currently run track. I have been running since 2009. Many of these injuries have happened to me through the course of these years. First, i pulled both of my hamstring in the first 2 years of my running career. I couldn't run again for a whole year. After that, i got runner's knee, which wasn't as bad but it's still considered a running injury. Last year during soccer practice, i went to score a goal and i fell to the ground. Turns out i fractured a bone in my hip. My hip has been bothering me ever since because i work out on it so much but haven't taken the time to actually strenghten it. Right now i am out for the rest of track season due to a birth defect in my back that i was just aware of. So yes, running alone causes multiple injurys

You are invited to take part in a research study. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of one week, sport specific weight loss on the quadriceps muscle group and hand grip force production in wrestlers with 2 or more years of experience. Since the majority of wrestlers tend to wait until the week before competition to begin losing weight to be able to compete in their desired weight class, a loss of strength could follow. Research suggests this loss of weight within such a short period of time will cause a decrease in performance, and as an athlete, you want to be competing at your best at all times. You have been invited to take part in this study because you are or have been a wrestler. Ten people will be a part of

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body, but also happens to be the most frequently torn tendon (Reiman et al., 2014). It originates from the soleus muscle extending over to the two heads of the gastrocnemius and is inserted into the calcaneus. (Benjamin, Suzuki, & Toumi,2009, p.5). Occasionally it has been noted that in 2.9 – 5.5% of people, there is a third head of the gastrocnemius. (Benjamin, Suzuki, & Toumi, 2009, p.7). It is also the strongest and thickest tendon in the body. As the tendon reaches the calcaneus, it allows for elongation (which is the amount of extension that the tendon is able to undergo when it’s under stress). Furthermore, the elongation allows for a release of energy during movement.

The authors report that regular participation in physical activities is associated with the risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries, including soft tissue injuries to tendons. Although there is a high incidence of soft tissue injuries, the etiology of these tendon and other musculoskeletal injuries are not fully understood. Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors have been shown to be associated with tendon injuries. Recent research has shown that specific variants of the COL5A1 and TNC genes are associated with Achilles tendon injuries in physically active individuals.

There are twenty-three different sports injuries. the first one on the list would be an achilles tendon injury. The achilles is the biggest tendon in your body, it is very common for this tendon to get injured. The tendon gets injured in the following sports such as basketball, baseball, softball, football, soccer, tennis, volleyball, running, dancing, and gymnastics.

Soccer is the most playing sport worldwide, with 275 million players of either gender and of all ages. In terms of incidence rates in professional players, soccer leads to to 3.4 injuries per 1000 training hours and 21.9 injuries per 1000 match hours (). Hamstring strain are common injuries in soccer players, typically occur during sprinting, with a high recurrence rate (11–30%), that lead to an incapability to play soccer till up to 90 days (). A recurrent hamstring injury (RHI) is delineated as an injury of the same site and same type of hamstring and which occurs after a player’s return to play (). A particular difficulty observed from an injury prevention point of view is that hamstring injury risk factors are heterogeneous. It has been proposed that the interaction between non-modifiable risk factors, such as previous history of injury and increasing age, and modifiable factors, such as strength, needs to be reasoned. The most emerging evidence reaffirms persuading early muscle activation, especially eccentric strengthening exercises moving through an entire range of optimal muscle length have been shown more effective in stimulating compatible adaptation to loading and becoming the mainstay of injury prevention and rehabilitation programme for RHI (). The aim of this essay is to explore evidences of interaction between various risk factors and eccentric hamstring strength in determining the risk of hamstring injury. It also discusses the efficacy of eccentric