This NBA Season Was Brutal on Achilles Tendons—What That Means for the Rest of Us

This year’s NBA season wasn’t just about buzzer beaters and playoff upsets—it was also defined by an alarming number of Achilles tendon ruptures.

Among the most talked-about: Tyrese Haliburton, star point guard for the Indiana Pacers, who completely ruptured his Achilles tendon just four minutes into Game 7 of the NBA Finals. His injury was confirmed by imaging, and he underwent surgery shortly after. Recovery is expected to take 9 to 12 months.

Unfortunately, he’s not alone. Several other NBA players—Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and more—also suffered Achilles injuries this season. It’s one of the most feared injuries in sports, and it’s becoming more common across all levels of activity.

But this isn’t just an athlete’s issue. At Align Foot & Ankle, we’re seeing more cases of Achilles pain, degeneration, and partial tears—even in patients who aren’t jumping for rebounds.

What Causes Achilles Injuries?

The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscles to your heel. It handles incredible force—especially during walking, running, jumping, and pushing off.

Over time, or with sudden strain, it can become weakened or inflamed. Without proper care, this can lead to microtears, chronic tendinitis, or in severe cases, a full rupture like Haliburton’s.

Common contributing factors include:

  • Tight or imbalanced calf muscles
  • Inadequate warm-up or stretching
  • Poor footwear support (especially low-cut or minimalist shoes)
  • Overuse, especially in sports or high-demand jobs
  • Degeneration with age or after previous injuries

How to Help Prevent an Achilles Tear

You don’t have to be a pro athlete to protect your Achilles. In fact, prevention starts with simple, consistent habits:

Daily Prevention Tips:

  • Stretch your calves and Achilles tendon regularly—especially before and after activity
  • Wear supportive shoes that cushion the heel and limit tendon strain
  • Avoid barefoot walking, especially on hard floors or uneven terrain
  • Cross-train to avoid repetitive overloading (e.g., alternate running with swimming or biking)
  • Listen to early warning signs like stiffness, swelling, or pain with push-off

At Align, we take this a step further.

How Align Foot & Ankle Helps Prevent and Treat Achilles Injuries

We believe in early diagnosis, personalized care, and regenerative therapies that restore tendon health without unnecessary surgery.

In-Office Diagnostics

We offer digital X-rays and biomechanical assessments right here in the clinic, so we can evaluate tendon structure, heel alignment, and loading patterns without delay.

Regenerative and Supportive Treatments We Offer:

SoftWave Shockwave Therapy
 Stimulates tendon healing, increases blood flow, and reduces inflammation using focused acoustic waves. Completely non-invasive with no downtime.

Class IV Laser Therapy
 Delivers deep-tissue penetration to reduce inflammation, accelerate healing, and relieve pain. Often combined with SoftWave for optimal results.

Custom Orthotics
 We use advanced gait plate and 3D scanning to design personalized orthotics that support proper alignment, offload pressure, and reduce Achilles strain long term.

Regenerative Injections
 For patients with partial tears or chronic degeneration, we may recommend biologic-based injections to help accelerate tendon repair.

Heel lifts and offloading boots
 Temporary support tools to reduce stress on the tendon during flare-ups or early recovery.

Every treatment plan is customized to your activity level, symptoms, and goals.

Don’t Ignore the Early Signs

Achilles injuries rarely happen out of nowhere. The tendon often gives you subtle warnings, including:

  • Pain or tightness in the back of the ankle
  • Morning stiffness that improves with walking
  • Pain when climbing stairs or pushing off
  • Swelling or warmth near the heel

Catching these signs early is key to avoiding a long recovery—or a full rupture.

Recovery Doesn’t Have to Be a Year-Long Setback

At Align Foot & Ankle, we help patients recover faster with the most advanced, non-invasive therapies available in podiatry today. Whether you’re managing chronic tendon pain or concerned about a recent injury, we’re here to guide your recovery and protect your long-term mobility.

Noticed pain or tightness in your Achilles? Let’s take a look before it becomes something bigger.

Schedule a consultation today.
 Align Foot & Ankle | 1600 W 1600 W 38th St #408, Austin, TX 78731
512-882-4911

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