THE ACHILLES TENDON By: Malik McDaniel

SIDE EFFECTS IN ATHLETES Achilles Tendon Injury An Achilles tendon injury affects professional and amateur athletes alike. The Achilles tendon is one of the longer tendons in your body, stretching from the bones of your heel to your calf muscles. You can feel it -- a springy band of tissue at the back of your ankle and above your heel. It allows you to extend your foot and point your toes to the floor. Unfortunately, it's a commonly injured tendon. Many Achilles tendon injuries are caused by tendinitis, in which the tendon becomes swollen and painful. In a severe Achilles tendon injury, too much force on the tendon can cause it to tear partially or rupture completely. What Can Cause Achilles Tendon Injuries? An Achilles tendon injury might be caused by: Overuse Stepping up your level of physical activity too quickly Not stretching enough before exercise Wearing high heels, which increases the stress on the tendon Problems with the feet. An Achilles tendon injury can result from flat feet, also known as fallen arches or ove-rpronation. In this condition, the impact of a step causes the arch of your foot to collapse, stretching the muscles and tendons. Muscles or tendons in the leg that are too tight Achilles tendon injuries are common in people who participate in these sports: Running, Gymnastics, Dance, Football, Baseball, Softball, Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball

HOW THE ACHILLES TEARS

TEARING THE ACHILLES TENDON

ATHLETES WHO SUFFERED FROM RUPTURED ACHILLLES

TEAR OF ACHILLES IN ACTION Kobe Bryant raptors/2013/12/08/ Chauncey billups David Beckham

REALITY It is inevitable to avoid injury when you are a professional athlete all around the world. With the new technology of today, doctors are finding more and more ways to hinder popular injuries such as the rupture of the Achilles to pro long careers and keep our favorite athletes competing at the levels they are capable of.

DR. CONNELL RELATED HAIR TECHNOLOGY Rolf Hoffmann, RepliCel's Chief Medical Officer states, "Dr. Connell was able to demonstrate in three different Phase I trials that direct injection of fibroblasts significantly improves healing in chronic tendinosis. It is our collective hypothesis that the underlying cause of chronic tendinosis is a cellular deficit of collagen producing cells in the injured tendon. RepliCel's extensive research on the cellular construct and function of hair follicle cells has allowed us to identify and isolate a source of very potent type I collagen producing fibroblast cell population. In Phase I trials, our collaborator achieved statistically significant results in both function and pain scores for Achilles tendinosis. In studies of pateller and tennis elbow tendinosis, indications of therapeutic benefit, in terms of pain and function, were demonstrated. It is our expectation that our new hair follicle derived fibroblast cell population will provide an improved cell population to further enhance the tendon treatment."