Akok achilles

[LIuconn]

Hope surgery is a success.

 

[superjohn]

This injury bothers me more than any sports injury I can ever remember. I'm just devastated for him.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

I’m no doctor but I’ve seen this described as a fairly rare injury for a young athlete, and also a devastating one for older athletes (in their 30s). So I’m hoping that Akok has some advantage in recovery as a young guy. Rudy Gay is cited as a guy who came back pretty successfully. Dominique Wilkins was perhaps most successful. Others like Cousins and Kobe not so great.

I am, it is, and he does. It really depends on how well it heals, and once healed enough how well the strength returns. I’ve got a 32 year old guy who I fixed about 5 months ago who is back running, with no restrictions in the weight room now. That’s what you hope for, and it’s more likely in younger guys. Typically you want that at 6 months. The most important thing is not to push too hard in the first 3 months. The hardest thing to get back is the explosiveness.

 

[YoungFree]

View attachment 50982

Where's the dislike button?

Praying for a great surgeon and an effective recovery.

 

[UconnPT2007]

I am, it is, and he does. It really depends on how well it heals, and once healed enough how well the strength returns. I’ve got a 32 year old guy who I fixed about 5 months ago who is back running, with no restrictions in the weight room now. That’s what you hope for, and it’s more likely in younger guys. Typically you want that at 6 months. The most important thing is not to push too hard in the first 3 months. The hardest thing to get back is the explosiveness.

Do you think his anatomical structure (long tibia, very lean muscular build, etc) would have any impact on his prognosis? Being only 200lbs requires less force generation to be explosive but I’m wondering if his LE strength was just weaker to begin with.

Akok turns 21 in October so if he redshirts he’ll be 22 before he sees live action again. Hopefully that won’t factor in to his decision making process when it comes to deciding whether to redshirt or try for a comeback in the 2nd half of next season.

 

[tentoes4rings]

I am, it is, and he does. It really depends on how well it heals, and once healed enough how well the strength returns. I’ve got a 32 year old guy who I fixed about 5 months ago who is back running, with no restrictions in the weight room now. That’s what you hope for, and it’s more likely in younger guys. Typically you want that at 6 months. The most important thing is not to push too hard in the first 3 months. The hardest thing to get back is the explosiveness.

I nominate Dr Hoop to perform the surgery.

 

[intlzncster]

I am, it is, and he does. It really depends on how well it heals, and once healed enough how well the strength returns. I’ve got a 32 year old guy who I fixed about 5 months ago who is back running, with no restrictions in the weight room now. That’s what you hope for, and it’s more likely in younger guys. Typically you want that at 6 months. The most important thing is not to push too hard in the first 3 months. The hardest thing to get back is the explosiveness.

Worst thing about this is he loses his offseason. That really sets him back, especially for a guy that needs those reps so badly

 

[bendm]

My brother is a doctor (DPT) and echoed this. He also mentioned that given Akok’s build it’s about the worst injury he could’ve suffered as a basketball player.
Wonderful.

What about his build makes it worse exactly? I ignorantly assumed not having a lot of weight to put on it was a good thing

 

[UConnKev]

This injury bothers me more than any sports injury I can ever remember. I'm just devastated for him.

This is up there with Victor Cruz for me

 

[Kenny11]

What about his build makes it worse exactly? I ignorantly assumed not having a lot of weight to put on it was a good thing

maybe how long the lower part of his legs are? I don’t know, I’m ignorant too

 

[lange10]

What about his build makes it worse exactly? I ignorantly assumed not having a lot of weight to put on it was a good thing

Scratch that. He said it doesn’t really matter his built. For some reason I thought I heard him say that.

 

[JimHurley]

My prediction is that he’s out for all of 2020-21 and 2021-22 will be his final season.

 

[Dean Wormer]

This is up there with Victor Cruz for me

Bo Jackson for me.
just running downfield about to breakaway from some fool and BAM dislocated hip. And maybe the best all around athlete to ever play major sports was never the same again.

 

[Chief00]

Quite frankly, and this is not a criticism of anyone, we should look at pre game stretching and warmups to see if there is anything we could do better. The fact this happened early in the game, to me, draws attention to this aspect.

 

[Conndog]

When I watched the opening tip, I thought he came down a little funny or seemed to limp slightly immediately afterward- but, then I thought it was the other foot & not the one that had Achilles injury. The injury happened so fast at game's beginning, maybe my mind is saying they were connected

 

[Marbles90]

Quite frankly, and this is not a criticism of anyone, we should look at pre game stretching and warmups to see if there is anything we could do better. The fact this happened early in the game, to me, draws attention to this aspect.

Interesting point. Just to add to - and again no criticism or really any knowledge on my part about this type of injury, but I am also curious what caused it. Looking at the replay it didn’t seem like there was anything unusual about the play or how he landed etc. It looked like a normal basketball play. When guys go down with knees or ankles, you can usually see some kind of trauma to the injured area. Really sad for such a good kid. I hope he comes back as strong as he was before the injury.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Akok
Put Rudy Gay on speed dial! What ever he did post op you should do. I would also check in with Durant. Both are similar in body type so I would titrate between what the two of them are doing.

 

[HuskyFich]

Akok
Put Rudy Gay on speed dial! What ever he did post op you should do. I would also check in with Durant. Both are similar in body type so I would titrate between what the two of them are doing.

“Word, let me just hit up KD real quick”
-Akok prolly

 

[husky429]

Quite frankly, and this is not a criticism of anyone, we should look at pre game stretching and warmups to see if there is anything we could do better. The fact this happened early in the game, to me, draws attention to this aspect.

Be sure to call Sal and the athletic training staff and tell them to get on that.

 

[tzznandrew]

Be sure to call Sal and the athletic training staff to get on that.

Stretching! Damn. If only the athletic training professionals had thought of that.

 

[CL82]

Worst thing about this is he loses his offseason. That really sets him back, especially for a guy that needs those reps so badly

On the other hand he gets an extra year to work on his upper body. Not much of a consolation prize but it’s something. I’m praying for the kid.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Do you think his anatomical structure (long tibia, very lean muscular build, etc) would have any impact on his prognosis? Being only 200lbs requires less force generation to be explosive but I’m wondering if his LE strength was just weaker to begin with.

Akok turns 21 in October so if he redshirts he’ll be 22 before he sees live action again. Hopefully that won’t factor in to his decision making process when it comes to deciding whether to redshirt or try for a comeback in the 2nd half of next season.

With his thin legs his Achilles is probably fairly skinny also. It may have been a factor in tearing it, but once they are repaired the healed tendon is usually much thicker. Sometimes double the uninjured side. With a stronger lower body and legs you can train better mechanics landing from jumps (you want the muscles to absorb the shock) but the hard court and explosive jumping takes a toll.

 

[Chief00]

Stretching! Damn. If only the athletic training professionals had thought of that.

But was it adequate, not done too early, was his body warmed up, etc? These are things smart people would explore and learn from. You can’t avoid all injures but you should be constantly learning and trying to minimize injury risk.

 

[uconngb]

But was it adequate, not done too early, was his body warmed up. etc. These are things smart people would explore and learn from. You can’t avoid all injures but you should be constantly learning and trying to minimize them.

Good god. If he broke a bone would you complain they weren’t giving him enough milk?? There’s no blame for an Achilles. It just happened. It sucks. Of all the crazy things you’ve said on this board.......

 

[UConnRock]

Durant’s Dr is in NYC.

Dr. Martin O'Malley performs surgery on Kevin Durant's ruptured Achilles

Martin O'Malley, MD, performed surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles on the Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant after the injury in game five of the NBA Finals.

www.beckersspine.com