After Achilles Tendon Injury, Kobe is Back
It has been a long road to recovery for Kobe Bryant since injuring his Achilles tendon back in April. Â Following the injury, he underwent reconstructive surgery on the tendon toward the end of the 2012-2013 basketball season. Â The longtime-Lakers star returned to the court in time for opening day, even sinking a slam dunk – the first of many more to come as he continues his successful NBA career.
Kobe has been a fierce warrior for the LA Lakers since his debut in 1996, a true force to be reckoned with on the court. Â Now fully recovered from his injured Achilles tendon, Kobe Bryant is not the first warrior to have been struck down by the heel.
The infamous “Achilles Heel†is more than just a metaphor, named for the Greek warrior of legend; it is the longest tendon in the human body, extending down the length of the lower leg.  Also called the “heel cord,†the Achilles tendon connects the the heel bone to the calf muscle, and is crucial to foot and ankle mobility, as is necessary for walking.  Injury to this particular tendon can be incapacitating, but with the help of the Foot and Ankle Institute of San Francisco, it can be treated.  It is too bad the Trojan War hero Achilles, slain through the heel cord in battle, was not so fortunate in his time.
Whether a sudden traumatic injury like those of Achilles and Kobe, or increasing tenderness from overuse, treatment is available for your Achilles tendon affliction. Â Common disorders in the heel cord are Achilles tendonitis and Achilles tendonosis. Â With repeated use and strain, the tendon may become inflamed (tendonitis), causing pain or discomfort along the back of the leg or ankle. Â Over time, the strain from inflammation could lead to degeneration of the tendon due to minute tearing (tendonosis). Â Achilles tendonitis and tendonosis are often characterized by pain-aching, tenderness, stiffness, or soreness surrounding the heel cord. Â This type of injury is common among individuals who spend a good deal of their time on their feet, including athletes like Kobe Bryant.
Seven months. That’s how long Bryant was off the court rehabilitating his ankle.  Seven months might seem like a long time, but it is nothing compared to his NBA career spanning almost two decades.  Thanks to modern foot and ankle treatments, an injured Achilles tendon did not end Kobe’s basketball career the way it ended Achilles’s career as a warrior.  Don’t let tendonitis be your “Achilles heel†–  schedule an appointment at the Foot and Ankle Institute today and their team of Achilles tendon experts will help you get back on your feet!