AboutDr. Bruce Forciea Expertise I can handle most questions regarding sports injuries, conditioning, jumps, spins, and basic skating.
Experience Professional skating coach for 15 years. Former PSA Senior rated coach and ice show performer. Now a chiropractor and full-time college instructor in anatomy and physiology.
Organizations Human Anatomy and Physiology Society
Wisconsin Chiropractic Association
Publications Wisconsin Technical College System course in General and Advanced anatomy and physiology.
Author of Unlocking the Healing Code, a book on healing scheduled for release in December, 2007.
Education/Credentials Doctor of Chiropractic from Parker College.
B.A. Psychology Eckerd College
Awards and Honors Midwestern Novice and Junior Pairs Champion and National competitor.
Question Hi, Dr. Forciea.
I ruptured my achilles tendon on the take off for an axel recently, and I'm still trying to understand how/why. I am 42 and used to skate competitively as a child/young adult. I started back skating regularly about 5 months ago and was skating about twice a week until this happened. When I first started skating again, I took time to break in my new boots. After a few months, I started doing axels and after another month or two, I started working on a double salchow (I was able to land several doubles when I was younger). About a week before the rupture, I felt what I now believe was a tear, and my tendon was a little sore off and on for the next week. Also, my skates had been really dull until just before the injury -- it happened on my first day back on the ice after having them sharpened.
I'm trying to focus on healing (I had surgery almost a week ago), but I also want to understand how it happened and how I can prevent a similar injury in the future -- without giving up jumps (if possible). Any thoughts?
Thanks!!
Answer Hi Jill:
Sorry to hear about your achilles tendon. The mechanism of injury for your injury probably involved the explosive contraction of the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus). Sometimes overuse also contributes to the problem by creating inflammation and weakening the tissue so that an explosive contraction of the muscles causes a tear.
Preventing this sort of injury will depend on how well it heals. Generally when there has been a rupture or tear the tissue heals by producing scar tissue which is not as strong as the original tissue. Getting physical therapy, reducting inflammation and gradually rehabilitating the tendon will help it to heal. You will also need to gradually return to jumping as indicated by your physical therapist. Besides stretching I would also recommend gradually performing plyometric exercises to simulate the jumping motion in order to further strengthen the tissue. I would recommend gradually transitioning from exercises to plyometrics and then to jumps if possible.
