The role of recreational sport activity in Achilles tendon rupture

Abstract

During the last few decades, the incidence of tendon ruptures has increased in civilized countries. Our ma terial comprises 749 patients who had 832 tendon ruptures treated surgically between 1972 and 1985. There were no competitive athletes among the patients studied. There were 292 single ruptures of the Achilles tendon, 274 of the proximal biceps brachii, 113 of the extensor pollicis longus, and 70 of other tendons. Forty- eight patients had multiple ruptures and 35 patients had reruptures. Achilles tendon ruptures often occurred in recreational sports activities (59%), in contrast to other tendon ruptures (2%; P < 0.001). The mean age for patients who had Achilles tendon rupture was 35.2 years and for patients with other ruptures, 50.7 years (P < 0.001). There was a connection between the high incidence of blood group O and tendon ruptures (P< 0.001). In cases of multiple ruptures and reruptures, the frequency of blood group O was 71%. Sixty-two point three percent of the patients with Achilles tendon rupture were professionals or white collar workers, which is markedly more than in the Hungarian popula tion (12.7%; P < 0.001). Two hundred and six Achilles tendon ruptures were studied histologically, and all cases displayed pathological alterations. The results indicate that complete rupture of the Achilles tendon is usually a sequel to a sedentary life-style and participa tion in sports activities.