Achilles Injuries?

Riders skipping leg day

Has it been that big of an issue lately? Not something I've really noticed. 

For kids, I'd assume lack of proper strength development when moving to big bikes and subjecting themselves to much gnarlier speeds, tracks, conditions, etc.

For the 30+ pros I'd say it's from wear and tear over the years... As I would assume they are already really strong and flexible.

The bikes are a lot faster these days... I'm sure the velocities and g forces are at an all time high. Pros probably push the limits of the human body in many respects.

I love me some ankle flexion though. I feel like it's not talked about enough as being a focus of proper technique. That 2 inches of travel is massive for traction, drive, balance, and overall control of a dirtbike. Most crashes I see at a local old guy level are the result of overall stiffness in the lower half of the body. The hips, knees, and ankles need to be flexible and strong if you want to go fast and stay in control.

Not stretching and being on the balls of your feet at the wrong time are the biggest issues... No matter what age you are.

My doc told me that it just happens, people tear them walking down the stairs or doing other random things.

Or it's all the fault of those damn A* boots!

Well , I blew out both of mine because I was stupid!

Just my 2 cents but Footpeg spike sharp teeth biting into the boots are causing it.

Friend of mine came off the couch years ago to qualify for 125 b/c at LL. First day there on the second lap of practice he overshot story land and mangled his Achilles. Always runs ankle saver pegs now, I’ve always wanted to try a set. 

There's 2-3 other active threads on this exact topic where that has been discussed quite a bit.  Most likely a combination of riding technique (riding on toes, dropping heels, and too much ankle flexion), some pro riders adapting their boots for more ankle flexion, and possibly over training.  You've had the following Pros damage achilles in the last 24 months: Tomac, Friese, Rodbell, Swoll, and Ferry - that we know of.  Could be others.  I badly damaged both ankles last year (fortunately didn't rupture the achilles) when I cased a peaked out double while riding with heels slightly dropped - the new technique that people love to rave about (me SMH...).  No more of that for me.  I'll ride on the balls of my feet, but EF that shit of dropping the heels.  I'm not going through that shit again, and I got lucky.  Thankfully my SG12s saved me as much as any quality boot could have.  I'll never be more than an average C rider.  Just not worth the risk or reward.

Interesting theory. Tech 10s probably grip the foot pegs tighter than any other boot due to the design of the sole. If your theory is correct that could explain why so many Tech 10 riders have had issues vs other boots. 

Also Tech 10's can be modified easily to allow more flexion. Cut the bars out between strap 1 & 2 and the boot bends more heal-to-toe. You can see modified boots on Ferry's insta, Jetts insta, etc. 

Yeah but even the Tech 10 enduro boots without those bars have more support than a Fox Instinct or probably an SG12/22. 

Could knee braces be an additional factor?    Force has to go somewhere.

It is possible. Could be something with the diets or training too. Most pros are in Tech 10 so most injuries will probably be in those. There seem to be a lot of achilles injuries in the NFL the past few years too.

With so many riders the last few years switching to custom boots that delete the center brace on the front of the ankle to allow more flex, is removing a safety feature the cause?

It is a safety feature most other boots already don't have. Other than Tomac, how many others who had an injury have those bars removed?

If I am understanding this correctly a stiff boot reduces the amount of flex and would actually reduce the risk of injury.

Running shoes are a large percentage of causing the injury.

https://kingbrand.com/Achilles_Injury_Cause.php?MAP=Achilles_Injury_Tre…

From my experience arch support has a pretty big factor in it also. 

Well I just did mine in SG12 boots while running lace up ankle braces in the boots. OJ’d a decent size jump and landed in a hole, immediately felt like someone smacked my calf with a baseball bat. Rode off the side of the track with my foot hanging off the peg. I’ve OJ’d bigger jumps worse and rode it out just fine. 

I think there is just too much force involved that unless you are in a totally solid boot that would be impossible to ride in you'll have these injuries. 

Same reason guys still tear ACLs in knee braces there is just too much skin/muscle/socks/sweat etc between the tendon and bone and the protective footwear or knee brace. 

Could the ankle brace possibly reduce mobility and flexibility in a way that the impact force overloaded the achilleas?

a buddy of mine tore his a couple years ago unloading his KTM backing it down the ramp from his truck 🙄 He was 67 at the time. 🙃

Did you land with your heals dropped from being on balls of feet on pegs or were your arches on the pegs?  I nearly blew out both ankles on a hard hit coming up short on a big double due to riding on the balls of my feet on the pegs, which resulted in my heals dropping way below the footpeg on the hard landing. Felt like my toes touched my shins.....Gaerne SG12s. I try to ride on the balls of my feet +98% of the time, but there are instances when you shouldn't.  Taking big hits isn't one of them.

I learned from playing volleyball how important it is to stretch your calf and Achilles, especially before high impact movements.

Best thing you can do is stretch your calves any time you think about it but especially before a moto sesh. How many 40 something dads are stretching their calves before their wife-induced pickle ball games? Dudes are tearing those things left and right.

A curb or a wall is all you need.

I don’t remember. I typically switch to my arches in the air when i know I’ve got a hard landing coming but I must not have done that in this instance otherwise I’m sure I wouldn’t have torn my Achilles. Would I have injured something else? Not sure. 

twisted my foot in a rut on a low bike and somehow the achilles still hurst occasionally. didnt hurt at the time, only the knee. no idea how the hell that can tweak an achilles but it did. 

I'm not going to get off in the weeds with this, but it's from too much repetitive exercise that is cardio related that causes tendonitis.   It's a problem in motocross because of how violent the landings from big jumps.    Not really an issue in other sports because even with tendonitis they don't have the violent impacts that moto does.   I've torn both of mine.   

And like someone else said,  stretching calves is very important.   If your calves feel excessively  tight that's when you're at the highest risk.  

It is a significant problem in the NBA and NFL. While NBA players probably do a lot of cardio I doubt NFL players do. I have heard dehydration also increases the risk.