Description
This session will examine risk factors that predispose high-level athletes to Achilles tendon ruptures and review contemporary management strategies, including operative versus non-operative decision-making. Participants will explore current treatment guidelines, surgical indications, and evolving rehabilitation protocols designed to facilitate safe yet accelerated return to sport. Emphasis will be placed on evidence-based strategies that optimize tendon healing, restore performance, and reduce reinjury risk. In addition, this session will analyze the rising incidence of Achilles tendon ruptures, with particular attention to trends in professional basketball players and the downstream impact on performance metrics and career trajectory. As a Member Community, our goal is to foster dialogue around best practices, highlight emerging research, and identify opportunities to standardize care pathways and performance optimization strategies across institutions. The format will include a focused evidence review followed by interactive discussion to encourage peer exchange, shared experiences, and collaborative problem-solving.
Learning Objectives
After completing this live activity, the participant should be able to:
- As a result of attending this session, participants will be able to identify risk factors that predispose high-level athletes to Achilles tendon rupture.
- As a result of attending this session, participants will be able to describe evidence-based rehabilitation approaches for managing Achilles tendon rupture, including strategies for safe return to sport.
- As a result of attending this session, participants will be able to discuss potential etiologies for the rising incidence of Achilles tendon ruptures in professional basketball players and its impact on performance.
Accreditation Statement
The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CME Credit Designation
The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) designates this live activityfor a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Disclosure Statement
In accordance with ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, AAPM&R requires all individuals who are in a position to affect the strategic direction of AAPM&R and/or control the content of an educational activity to disclose all financial relationships with any ineligible company within the last 24 months. The ACCME defines an “ineligible company” as any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Disclosures are made in written form prior to the start of the educational activity, and any potential conflicts of interest that exist are mitigated prior to the start of the activity through AAPM&R’s Conflict of Interest Disclosure and Resolution Policy Process. Individuals in a position to affect the strategic direction of AAPM&R and/or control content and their disclosed financial relationships are listed below.
No other planners, faculty, or individuals in control of content disclosed any relevant financial relationships.
Principle Faculty
Name, Credential(s): Company Name, Nature of financial relationship;
Surein Theivakumar DO, FAAPMR - Nothing to Disclose
David Weinberg MD - Nothing to Disclose
Raheel Shah DO - Nothing to Disclose
AAPM&R Medical Education Committee
Name, Credential(s): Company Name, Nature of financial relationship
Rachel Brakke Holman, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Sarah M. Eickmeyer, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Chelsea D. Frost, MD, MS - Nothing to Disclose
David J. Haustein, MBA,MD,MBA - Relationships to Disclose
Sarah K. Hwang, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Ravi E. Kasi, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Caroline Pupke, DO - Nothing to Disclose
Monica E. Rho, MD - Nothing to Disclose
McCasey R. Smith, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Jennifer A. Soo Hoo, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Brionn K. Tonkin, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Stephanie Tow, MD - Nothing to Disclose
Justin L. Weppner, DO - Nothing to Disclose
Alexandra G. Wolfe, DO - Nothing to Disclose
FDA Disclosures
All faculty members for this activity have disclosed they do not intend to discuss or demonstrate any pharmaceutical or medical device for which FDA clearance has not been approved.