June is Men’s Health Month, a time to boost awareness of issues that exclusively or disproportionately affect men. This month, we examine the Achilles tendon.
The Achilles is the tendon that people most frequently rupture, and it’s five times more likely to affect a man than a woman. The foot and ankle pain specialists at Bahri Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, are ready to help when Achilles tendon injuries arise.
The largest tendon in your body, the Achilles connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. You can’t walk or run without this tendon, and it’s also crucial for jumping and making sudden bursts of speed.
As with many matters of anatomy, male Achilles tendons are significantly larger than their female counterparts. The Achilles is large for a reason. It’s subject to extreme forces, causing significant stress even under normal activities. Injuries range from tendinitis to full rupture.
The question remains, why are men affected more often than women?
Factors that make Achilles injuries more likely in men include:
Partially age-related, men experience a loss of tendon elasticity, usually between ages 30 and 50, that’s greater than the same effects in women.
Male muscle mass can generate greater force, suggesting that the larger Achilles tendon in men still isn’t of the size and strength to compensate for the differences.
Men tend to favor sports that generate high-impact forces on the feet and ankles, compounded by their larger body masses.
The “weekend warrior” tendency often creates sudden increases in the intensity of activities, leading to forces the Achilles tendon can’t handle.
Risk factors such as high body mass, insufficient warmups, worn footwear, and uneven surfaces can all combine to heighten the risk of tendon injury.
With preparation and a training plan, you may be able to sidestep Achilles tendon injuries. Consider these strategies for participating in sports and protecting against the effects of aging.
Sometimes, no matter how prepared you are, injuries occur. Contact Bahri Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinic at the nearest of our two locations to pinpoint and treat foot and ankle problems promptly. Schedule your visit by phone or online today.
