NBA disputes study that links Achilles injuries to increased playing time

A new medical study suggests that spikes in minutes played before an Achilles tear are associated with a higher risk of the injury in the NBA. The research, published last month in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine by UCSF-affiliated doctors and researchers, looked at 19 Achilles tears across 11 seasons and found correlation in the 10- and 15-game samples prior to injury versus a player’s season average. It also reported no association with factors such as age, position, role, or schedule density, concluding that workload surges preceded ruptures and that younger players ruptured under lighter cumulative use. The NBA disputed the paper, saying its internal review of 2012-13 to the present found no relationship between Achilles injuries and minutes played, citing Dr. John DiFiori’s statement to The Athletic.