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

TLDR

To determine the cumulative incidence of Achilles tendon rupture and tendinopathy among former elite athletes. A historical cohort study was conducted in Finland with 785 male former elite athletes and 416 matched controls, using questionnaire‑reported tendinopathy and physician‑diagnosed ruptures before age 45. The study found markedly high incidences of tendinopathy in middle‑ and long‑distance runners (adjusted OR 31.2) and of rupture in sprinters (OR 14.9), indicating that Achilles tendon problems are clinically significant and common in specific sports.

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.