• Home
• /
• Football

Explainer of torn Achillles’ tendon

The Achilles’ tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the bone in the heel of the foot, is the most commonly torn tendon in the body. The tendon is usually torn when the leg is straight and the calf muscle contracts.

It typically takes several weeks for the tendon to heal, making it unlikely Beckham will be able to play in the World Cup.

“With Beckham, you never say never, but if it’s a complete tear, it’s very unlikely he’ll be fit enough for the World Cup,” said Jonathan Rees, a sports medicine expert and spokesman for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine.

“With early surgery, Beckham might get back into training in three months’ time, but that wouldn’t give him enough time to be match-fit for June.”

Rees said if the footballer had only partially torn his Achilles’ tendon, there was a possibility he might be ready to play in South Africa.

“We’ll know more once they do the surgery and we know how bad the tear is,” he said.

Tearing the Achilles tendon can happen even without a major incident, particularly in athletes whose bodies are under the continual stress of physical training. Beckham has had little time off, playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer and then going on loan with AC Milan in Italy.

In Beckham’s case, he was on his own in the center circle before he began hopping on his right leg, grimacing in pain during AC Milan’s 1-0 victory over Chievo Verona on Sunday.

“With the Achilles’ tendon, you can have a lot of wear and tear happening over your career so the tendon itself is weakened,” Rees explained. “The final event that tears it can be quite innocuous.”

People who tear their Achilles’ tendon have major swelling and are unable to put any weight on their ankle or foot. Beckham generally kicks the ball with his right foot.

Certain medications increase the risk of tearing the Achilles’ tendon, like antibiotics or medicines to reduce inflammation like corticosteroids. It is not known whether Beckham was on any such treatment.

Doctors typically fix torn Achilles’ tendons with surgery. After the operation, patients are outfitted with a cast or brace to help the tendon heal, for about six to eight weeks. That makes Beckham’s chances of playing in June at the World Cup unlikely, experts say.