Ryan Howard Has Torn His Achilles Tendon

If it isn't hard enough to take a loss that exits your team from the MLB postseason, first baseman Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies ruptured his Achilles tendon. With two outs, Ryan hit a ground ball to second base resulting in an easy play at first sending the Cardinals to the NLDS. What was out of view of the play was the injury that occurred to Ryan as he tried to advance to first base. As he planted his foot to advance he crumbled to the ground. Several attempts were made to get back up and run but he was just unable to push off of his left foot. He described his injury as follows.

"I was trying to run, and I just felt this pop," said Howard. "The whole thing just went numb, like it was on fire. Just tried to keep going, and went down. It literally felt like I was on a flat tire. I tried to get up. Couldn't go." He also said, "[I] didn't have any pain. I think it was flexed trying to come out of the box. It felt like the bat hit it."

Ryan had been suffering from Bursitis near his Achilles tendon and had been given a cortisone (steroid) injection in the area to reduce inflammation and pain prior to the playoffs.

It was almost like Ryan Howard had read the textbook on Achilles tendon injuries by the way he described his injury. Ironically many people who injure this tendon describe the injury like being hit with a baseball bat, then loose the ability to flex at the ankle and can have a burning sensation. An MRI has confirmed the diagnosis of rupture.

Achilles tendon ruptures occur when one plantarflexes the foot rapidly, which is a downward force at the ankle, or when a rapid force is applied to the foot forcing it upwards while flexing the calf muscle simultaneously.

The motion alone usually does not cause the injury, but usually involves one of the following problems

1) Overuse of a diseased tendon, or overuse in people with a weak calf muscle. Your typical Weekend Warrior.

2) Use of a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. Usually just taking the medication is not enough, a rapid ankle movement is needed as well.

3) Finally, the use of cortisone(steroids) near any tendon can result in rupture. Cortisone temporarily inhibits the normal healing process of the tendon.

In Howard's case, his injury is probably a combination of a diseased tendon and injection of cortisone in close proximity to tendon.

Howard is in for a long recovery. In a complete rupture of the tendon, surgery is required to repair the tendon and recovery will likely take 6 or more months.

Unfortunately for Ryan and the Phillies organization, don't expect to see Howard rounding the bases at the start of the next MLB season.