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Bilateral Achilles Tendon Ruptures in the NFL
Aman Chopra1,2, Aarav S Parekh1,2, Deepak Ramanathan1,2
1Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia (AC).
Foot & Ankle Specialist
|July 19, 2022
Summary
Bilateral Achilles tendon ruptures (ATR) in the NFL significantly impact player performance, affecting Pro Bowl selections and defensive stats. Recovery time and games missed remain consistent after successive ruptures.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Professional Athletics
Background:
- Achilles tendon ruptures (ATR) severely impact National Football League (NFL) athletes.
- Previous research focused on single (ipsilateral) ATRs, leaving the effects of bilateral ATRs on NFL performance unexamined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of bilateral Achilles tendon ruptures on NFL athlete performance.
- To analyze changes in performance metrics following successive bilateral ATRs.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of publicly available injury data for NFL athletes with bilateral ATRs from 2007 to 2021.
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to identify eligible athletes.
- Performance metrics, age at injury, and rehabilitation data were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Five NFL athletes with bilateral ATRs were identified.
- Athletes showed a significant age difference at successive ruptures (27.8 vs 30.4 years, P < .01).
- A decreasing trend in Pro Bowl nominations (P = .027) and a significant change in forced fumbles for defensive players were observed after successive ATRs.
Conclusions:
- Bilateral Achilles tendon ruptures negatively affect NFL player performance.
- While rehabilitation duration and games missed were similar, performance metrics like Pro Bowl selections and defensive stats declined.
- Further research is warranted to fully understand the long-term effects of bilateral ATRs on elite athletes.
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