Thomas Vermaelen's Achilles Heel

Welcome to The Physio's Opinion. I am a qualified physiotherapist and fanatical sports, and Arsenal F.C fan. This blog will not only be about Arsenal, but any sportsmen's injuries you may want more information on. As for now, I have been fed up of reading blogs criticising the Arsenal medical team over Thomas Vermaelen's ongoing achilles injury, as so the blog begins.....


Vermaelen injured his Achilles back on 28th August against Blackburn Rovers in a 2-1 win at Ewood Park. At first, it was thought to only keep him out for a few weeks tops. Little did we know that 5 months down the line he would still be suffering minor setbacks and having to see world specialists. It has meant, that combined with a grade I hamstring strain to Squillaci, Arsene Wenger has had to look into the transfer market for a new Centre Back (probably a blessing in disguise considering the lack of ability of Squillaci and Koscielny!).


The phrase "achilles heel" was not pulled out of the blue. As the trusted Wikipedia source says  "An Achilles’ heel is a deadly weakness in spite of overall strength, that can actually or potentially lead to downfall".


The achilles region has an extremely limited blood supply and poor metabolism, meaning any injury to it has slow progress any way. Thomas's initial diagnosis of a 'few weeks' was probably based on the thought process that he had pulled it rather than damaged any of the tissue. Now, it seems the injury is most likely to be an Achilles Tendonpathy...and just ask Owen Hargreaves how tedious tendonopathies can be. I'm not saying Vermaelen will be out for as long as Hargreaves, but I am saying be patient.


A Tendopathy refers to damage to the tendon, this is an umbrella term for inflammation or small micro-tears in the fibres. Due to the achilles poor blood supply, the lay down of scar tissue is not always succinct, and often goes across the fibres of the tendon, as opposed to with it. This is a normal healing process, its not ideal, but its not Arsenal's medical staffs fault. This scar tissue can form a thick, hard block in the tendon, hard to break down, meaning that when the Thomas starts to run, the achilles tendon cannot move smoothly, and so he feels slight discomfort (one of what Arsene calls a 'setback'). This scar tissue formation is not always easy to spot, and often can't be seen on scans, and so experts from all over the world can come and assess Thomas, and give their opinions on treatment and management strategies.....


What Arsenal have tried, or are trying? Don't ask me! That's what the experts are for, all I can tell you is that tendopathies and achilles injuries are a slow and patient game....lets not rush Vermaelen back or the weakness might cause a complete rupture....then you'll all be moaning that he's out for 8 months! Oh, and don't worry, we have Djourou.....player of the season for arsenal minus Nasri!