by Liz Bonis, WKRC | Click here to see the full story.

CINCINNATI (WKRC) — As sports and athletic events ramp up, specialists at OrthoCincy are reporting a surge in foot and ankle injuries. Michael Batdorf, an avid pickleball player, recently experienced an Achilles tendon rupture while playing.

“I was backpedaling and I fell in a heap, and I thought someone hit me in the back of the head with a pipe,” Batdorf said.

Dr. John Linz, a foot and ankle surgeon at OrthoCincy, explained the mechanics behind such injuries. “What happens is a tendon that runs from your calf to your heel, it’s the biggest tendon in your body, and when you start and stop suddenly, or change positions suddenly, it creates an increase in tensile stress through that tendon. It just can’t withstand that stress,” Linz said.

Fortunately, Batdorf is on the mend, thanks to a newer procedure called the Percutaneous Achilles Repair System (PARS), which shortens recovery time. “It uses a tool and some intricate stitching to help delicately pull the tear together,” Linz said. This method leaves patients with only a few tiny scars and, with the aid of physical therapy, allows them to get back on their feet in a few months.

Mariah Nierman, a physical therapist and athletic trainer at OrthoCincy, emphasized the importance of respecting pain during recovery. “So if you’re post-injury or post-op, we do still respect the pain. I always say you want to push to the point of pain but not through it,” Nierman said.

To reduce the risk of such injuries, Nierman advises stretching as a key preventive measure. “As far as with the calf and the Achilles, you really want to make sure you are stretching with a straight knee and then with a bent knee, both times the heels need to stay down on the ground,” she said. Nierman suggests stretching with a longer pull rather than bouncing motions after warming up.