Is it sane to return to the sport which snapped my achilles tendon?

July 11, 2005 9:39 AM

In 2001 I snapped an achilles tendon whilst playing squash. Result: a repair op, 10 weeks in plaster, a lot of physio and giving up the game I'd played and loved for over twenty years. Now I'm pining for it like a maniac. Does anyone have any experience of returning to the game (or a similarly joint-thrashing one) after this injury? It should be noted that I'm 46 years old. Still reasonably fit but obviously no spring chicken.

A combination of abject wimpery and relocating to the US (where finding a proper squash court is as hard as finiding serious players of the game, it seems) has made it a little too easy for me to ignore how much I miss the game. Another factor is the ease with which my tendon snapped. Had it happened whilst I was lunging like a loon at full stretch I might not have been so unnerved but it just went while moving fairly easily across the court for an interception. I have flat feet and am as graceless as a crippled ostrich when I move (bloody good player I was though!) and the doc said this probably contributed to wear and tear until my old sinew was just ready to go.

I'd really like to play again but I'm concerned both for the repaired tendon and - almost moreso - the other one, which was actually giving me more aches prior to the accident than the one that gave out. The docs say that people do return to the sport but there's always an increased risk.

I'm wondering if anyone has experiences to share which might encourage or discourage me in my increasing desire to return to the gladiatorial box. Thanks.

posted by Decani to health (6 comments total)

My older brother (36yo) has really bad ankles, although I dunno the specific injury. He swears by Active Ankles -- he plays volleyball and basketball with no problem.
posted by LordSludge at 11:21 AM on July 11, 2005

My father played once or twice a week for at least my entire life. Around 65, his knees started to hurt him from earlier sports injuries and general overuse, and he stopped playing for a few years. He missed it and it showed. His lifetime squash partner stopped a year or two later, because of a back injury.

This year they started playing together again. My father, who's 71 now, says that they don't play as hard or as long or as fast as they used to, a half hour is enough, but they obviously have a great time. Then again, he started saying in his 50s that squash had stopped being about outrunning the other guy, and more about outthinking him.

So there's no reason to give it up, but you might have to stop being a gladiator.
posted by fuzz at 11:38 AM on July 11, 2005

I feel for you. My particular vice is raquetball, I can play for hours, fast and hard. However in the last three months, in the raquetball court, I've; gotten a concussion, a shoulder pointer, and snapped a bone in my foot.

My cast comes off tomorrow, and hopefully, I'll be back on the court giving it another go. There really is nothing like playing at a high level, everyone says find a new sport, or slow down, but just go out there and do it!
posted by patrickje at 11:56 AM on July 11, 2005

Unfortunately the Achilles usually tears without warning and without an unusual physical stress. You may benefit from a full podiatric bio mechanical assessment and the use of orthotics to lessen the fore-foot instability and lack of shock absorption associated with having flat feet.

It's hard to give examples because relatively few people successfully go back to the same sport at the same level and intensity and tear the other Achilles because they find it hard to trust either of their Achilles again.

There's no absolute answer. People can go back for ten years and not have problems. If you have good health cover and are ok with the risk, and really can't live without your sport, you might be ok or you might end up back in plaster. Good luck with whatever you choose!

This site has some good exercises.
posted by lucien at 1:30 PM on July 11, 2005

Thanks folks. It's definitely a problem that I used to play hard and all-out and I know I'd find it really difficult to play in a lower gear, but... well, as it turns out I've been offered a game this coming Sunday. The guy's about my age and from talking to him about his game it seems he's a fairly casual player who thinks that 12 shots is a long rally! Soooo... I shouldn't have too much trouble, even given I haven't played for four years.

I'll give it a go. I'll be sure to stretch and warm up for half an hour before we start as well!
posted by Decani at 3:33 PM on July 11, 2005

I may be too late here, but Nykesha Sales came back from an Achilles tear that ended her basketball career at UConn. She now plays in the WNBA. Of course, she was less than half your age at the time. Take it easy!
posted by Carol Anne at 6:44 AM on July 12, 2005