Achilles Ruptures in Athletes: What Comes After the Snap?
This year’s NBA playoffs have been filled with drama, heartbreak, and incredible performances—but also a worrying trend: Achilles injuries. Three major stars—Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton—all sustained Achilles-related issues during the postseason, sparking concern across the league and sports medicine community.
While it’s impossible to ever know the situation each athlete was in, their training regimen, and any other issues leading up to the injury, any mention of the Achilles tendon raises serious questions about long-term recovery, explosiveness, and durability upon return. Kevin Durant has shown us that you can make a comeback to the basketball court and perform at a high level, but is he an exception?
So let’s take a look—not just at what happened—but at what recovery and rehabilitation actually looks like for athletes dealing with Achilles ruptures and the road back to peak performance.
🦶 What Is an Achilles Rupture?
The Achilles tendon is the thickest and strongest tendon in the human body. It connects your calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) to your heel bone and plays a critical role in:
- Pushing off the ground
- Sprinting and jumping
- Acceleration and deceleration
- Overall lower leg force production
A tendon rupture occurs when the tendon tears—partially or completely—usually due to sudden force, a quick change of direction, or an explosive movement. It is often associated with “pop,” followed by immediate weakness or the inability to push off the foot.
For high-level athletes, this injury can be career-defining. While not always career-ending, it’s a major setback, taking close to a full year of rehab and retraining.
🏀 The 2025 Playoffs: A Spotlight on Achilles Injuries
This postseason, three elite NBA players—Tatum, Lillard, and Haliburton—all faced Achilles and calf related concerns going into their. While their conditions may vary (strain vs. tendinosis vs. rupture), it puts a national spotlight on just how vulnerable even the fittest athletes can be.
Each of these players relies on:
- Explosiveness
- Quick first steps
- High minutes and repetitive load on the lower body
Whether it’s a partial tear, overuse tendinopathy, or a full rupture, the Achilles becomes a critical factor in how they return—and when.
🛠 What Does Recovery Look Like After a Rupture?
Let’s say an athlete sustains a full Achilles rupture and undergoes surgical repair. What does a high-quality plan of care look like?
🗓 Phases of Recovery & Return to Sport
🔹 0–6 Weeks: Protection & Early Mobilization
- Boot or cast to immobilize the ankle
- Early range of motion guided by a physical therapist
- Crutches or knee scooter to minimize weight bearing
- Pain control and swelling management
🔹 6–12 Weeks: Progressive Loading
- Gradual reintroduction of weight-bearing and gait training
- Isometric and light calf strengthening
- Begin neuromuscular re-education and proprioception
🔹 3–6 Months: Strength & Rebuild Phase
- Structured strength training for the posterior chain (calf, hamstring, glute)
- Emphasis on ankle stability, eccentric loading, and power development
- Change-of-direction and landing drills
🔹 6–12 Months: Return to Performance
- Sport-specific movement and explosive loading
- Gradual ramp-up in training volume, intensity, and minutes
- Continued tendon loading and athlete monitoring
At APEX PWR Physical Therapy, we combine expert care with progressive training to rebuild not just strength—but performance. Our integrated team of PTs and strength coaches ensures each phase is safe, targeted, and effective.
⚠️ Risk Factors for Achilles Injuries
Even elite athletes are vulnerable to Achilles injuries, especially when these risk factors are present:
- High training load with inadequate recovery
- Weak calf muscles
- Poor ankle mobility or flexibility
- Previous tendon pain or history of tendinopathy
- Sudden spikes in explosive activity (as seen during playoffs or training camps)
Through athlete testing and injury prevention at APEX PWR, we assess these risk factors using technology like VALD force plates, strength diagnostics, and movement pattern analysis—so we can catch weaknesses before they become injuries.
🧠 The Mental Game: Confidence After Rupture
Achilles recovery isn’t just physical—it’s deeply mental.
Athletes must relearn how to:
- Trust their body in motion
- Push off explosively without hesitation
- Stay patient through plateaus and setbacks
That’s why mental performance coaching, team support, and integrated rehab are so important for a confident return to sport.
💡 Final Thoughts: The Achilles Is Not a Career Ender
Today’s athletes have better tools than ever to recover from Achilles injuries. Thanks to advances in surgical repair, progressive rehab, and performance-based PT, a return to elite competition is not just possible—it’s expected.
Just ask players like Kevin Durant or Klay Thompson—both returned after Achilles ruptures to play again at the highest level. And for Kevin Durant, his last three seasons have been some of his best, statistically.
Whether you’re a pro athlete, weekend warrior, or youth competitor, you deserve a rehab plan that restores strength, mobility, and confidence.
🔗 Want to Learn More About Achilles Rehab or Return to Sport?
At APEX PWR in Tigard, Oregon, we specialize in injury recovery and return-to-play performance for athletes of all levels.
We offer:
- Integrated Physical Therapy
- Athlete Testing & Injury Prevention
- Sport-specific strength & conditioning
📞 Call us at 971.294.2669
🌐 Visit apexpwr.com
📚 Sources & Further Reading
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). “Achilles Tendon Rupture.” https://orthoinfo.aaos.org
- Brumann, M. et al. (2014). Return to Play After Achilles Tendon Rupture in Elite Professional Athletes. PubMed
- Silbernagel, K.G. et al. (2012). Deficits in Heel-Rise Height and Achilles Tendon Elongation Remain 2 Years After Injury. PubMed
- Maffulli, N. et al. (2005). Clinical Review: Current Concepts in the Management of Achilles Tendon Ruptures. PubMed
APEX PWR | Stronger. Safer. Smarter.
Rebuilding performance—one rep at a time.
Previous Blogs
Why More Women Should Be Taking Creatine (and What the Research Says)
Why More Women Should Be Taking Creatine (and What the Research Says) When it comes to supplements that support strength, energy, mood, and longevity, creatine remains one of the most underutilized tools in women’s health, despite being one of the most researched. But that’s starting to change. In a recent post, women’s health expert Angela
Omega-3s and Protein Synthesis: What Every Midlife Woman Needs to Know for Better Recovery
Omega-3s and Protein Synthesis: What Every Midlife Woman Needs to Know for Better Recovery If you’re a woman in your 30s, 40s, or beyond and struggling with slower recovery, increased soreness, or age-related muscle loss, you’re not alone. Hormonal shifts, especially during perimenopause and menopause, change the way your body repairs itself. What if one
Weighted Vests for Weight-Loss Maintenance: What the Science Really Says
Weighted Vests for Weight-Loss Maintenance: What the Science Really Says Losing body fat is hard. Keeping it off long-term? For many people, that’s even harder. Our bodies are designed to resist fat loss. When fat stores decline, the body interprets it as a survival threat. Hormones and neural signals kick in to ramp up appetite,