–>LA Lakers Kobe Bryant suffered a mid-game injury which will keep him off the court for 6 to 9 months, according to his trainer Gary Vitti via the Lakers’ Twitter account on Saturday. The night before Kobe fell down awkwardly, which appeared to be a torn Achilles heel. “I made a move that I’ve made a million times, and it just popped.”
According to Vitti, Bryant may be out for the rest of the season, and back in 2014. Bryant underwent an MRI, tweeting a picture from the hospital and had surgery on his torn Achilles tendon. “Some of it is just bad luck,” he said. “To say he was injured because he played 48 mins is a stretch.”
Dealing with an Achilles tendon injury can be an “unbearable frustration” and a painful ordeal. However, an injury like this can be managed and taken care of by a podiatrist like Dr. Neal Mozen of Foot Health Care Associates. Dr. Mozen can examine your Achilles tendon, determine the severity of your injury, and work with you to provide the appropriate treatment options.

What is the Achilles Tendon?
The Achilles tendon is a tendon that connects the lower leg muscles and calf to the heel of the foot. It is the strongest tendon in the human body, and is essential for making movement possible. Because this tendon is such an integral part of the body, any injuries to it can cause severe difficulties and should immediately be presented to a doctor.
What Are the Common Injuries to the Achilles Tendon?
Tendon Ruptures: One may hear a popping or snapping sound if their Achilles tendon ruptures.  Symptoms are swelling, pain, and difficulty walking or bending the foot forward. There are surgical and non-surgical procedures available, and depending on the treatment you take, recovery can last up to a year from treatment.
Achilles tendinitis: Achilles tendinitis is the milder of the two injuries, and can be recognized by the following symptoms: inflammation, dull to severe pain, an increased flow of blood to the tendon, portions of the tendon growing in thickness, and a slower movement time. Tendinitis can be treated in many different ways and is often diagnosed by an MRI.
If you have any questions, please contact our offices in Southfield, MI, Livonia, MI, and Novi, MI. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
Read our Article to learn more about Achilles tendon injuries.