Cumulative Incidence of Achilles Tendon Rupture and Tendinopathy in Male Former Elite Athletes

Abstract

Objective: 

To study the cumulative incidence of Achilles tendon rupture and tendinopathy among former top-level athletes.

Design: 

Historical cohort study.

Setting: 

Finland.

Participants: 

Male former elite athlete cohort members (n = 785; median age, 69 years when responding to the questionnaire; range, 54-97) and their matched controls (n = 416; median age, 68 years; range, 56-94).

Outcome Measurements: 

Questionnaire-reported Achilles tendinopathy and tendon rupture diagnosed by physicians before the age of 45 years and within the subjects' lifetimes.

Results: 

Cumulative incidence of Achilles tendinopathy before the age of 45 was high for middle and long-distance runners (adjusted odds ratio, 31.2 compared with controls; P < 0.001), and cumulative incidence of Achilles tendon rupture was high for sprinters (odds ratio, 14.9; P < 0.001).

Conclusions: 

Achilles tendon problems seem to constitute clinically significant and common problems in specific sports.