Achilles Tendon in Navy Personnel: Post-Surgery Expectations

Achilles tendon ruptures are common in active adults. While return-to-play stats exist, a recent study specifically focused on real-world fitness outcomes in U.S. Navy personnel following Achilles tendon repair.

Study focus

Researchers evaluated the performance of 451 Navy service members on the cardiovascular portion of their Physical Readiness Test (PRT) before and after surgery.

Key findings

The study reveals notable post-surgery changes in performance metrics, focusing on speed and endurance across activities.

• Post-surgery, runners were 41 seconds slower on the 1.5-mile run (p < 0.001).

• Bikers slowed by 10 seconds (p = 0.02).

• Runners with two post-op tests improved by 18 seconds (p = 0.004).

Takeaway

Surgical repair affects performance, especially in runners, but most individuals regain their function over time. These findings help guide post-op expectations for active individuals.