Achilles injuries are becoming more common, possibly due to the low vascularization of tendons, leading to slower growth and regrowth. Tissues also become more brittle with age, especially in individuals not engaging in regular physical activity. The frequency of Achilles injuries may also be related to the increasing average age of competitors in certain sports. There are two main factors to consider in preventing injuries: general fitness, muscle strength, and endurance; and specific joint, tendon, and injury-related considerations.
When he’s not working on How To! or coaching his daughter’s basketball team, our producer Derek John loves to play in pickup games with friends. But a serious on-court injury has kept him on the sidelines for months. Now, as he prepares to return to the sport he loves, Derek is seeking tips on how to prolong his playing days while avoiding another injury. In this episode, author Jeff Bercovici joins Carvell Wallace and Derek to share insights from his book, Play On: The New Science of Elite Performance at Any Age.
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How To’s executive producer is Derek John. Joel Meyer is our senior editor/producer and our producer is Rosemary Belson. This episode was produced by Kevin Bendis.
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