Just got back from a week of downwinding, and given my skill level LOTS of pumping (between bumps, out to the wind line, etc.). All of which for me is pretty back foot dominant.
Then just a few days after the trip, in the middle of a soccer game, I plant to sprint off my right (backfoot pumping) leg, and POP! Achilles snapped.
I’m wondering if this can be attributed to the pumping, or if they’re totally separate problems. Maybe it was going to happen either way.
Anyone hear of this injury in the foiling world? The pumping motion does really load up that tendon.
I think the very back footed nature of some setups and brands is definitely not good for downwind where endurance requirement could lead to injury for us older folk. Downwinding takes its toll on the rear calf as it is without having a foil that is back footed by nature. What setup were you running?
You could argue that pumping may have contributed a small amount due to fatigue and tightness, especially if you’re not a flexible person who does not stretch regularly.
But the blame lies solely in soccer… rapid directional changes under load, on a slippery surface? Yeah no thanks… There’s a reason soccer and touch football has such high injury rates among adults.
When I ruptured my Achilles the doc explained that stressing a tendon that’s already under tension overloads it beyond its failure point. He used the example of putting a sharp knife against a super tight string which is a bit different than just a tension force but you get the idea. Achilles ruptures are most common in late 40s to 50 year old weekend warriors. My Achilles had been ever so slightly sore in the days leading up to the rupture. I did it on Mother’s Day playing ultimate frisbee with other families.
Beyond a certain age running any farther than the refrigerator and/or jumping is potentially risky. Actually it’s not the jumping but the landing that is often the problem.
Best wishes, it’s a sucky recovery even if it’s pretty much painless.
For what its worth, I am a long-time distance runner and I have chronic achilles tendinitis issues (exhibits some tearing, but never totally torn). Pumping and foiling do not aggravate the issues for me - its just a running thing. Numerous doctors have told me that weak calves are the culprit, but I think my achilles is so damaged that there isn’t any amount of calf strengthening that is going to fix it - its basically just managing it.
So based on my personal experience, I would say that the foiling was not a contributor in your recent injury.
Often find previous history of achilles tendinopathy or persistent achilles issues prior to achilles rupture. Most common in middle to later age and sports involving running sports. foiling may have an impact but would be hard to say if it had affected your achilles prior to rupture unless you were already experiencing symptoms. Arguably long history of foiling could be preventative for achilles injury
The greatest risk of rupture is present in sports that involve sudden acceleration and deceleration, I don’t think foiling will match this definition. Perhaps, foiling can contribute to fatigue it, but a doubt a rupture will happen pumping a foil.