To stretch your Achilles, it’s as simple of lunging and bending your back knee. Or stand up against a wall, and press your foot into it. Standard drill for soccer players, and you don’t hear about them injuring their Achilles tendons (though I guess you don’t really hear about them doing anything since no one cares about soccer).

May 29th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Now that players have to aim low, the wear on the bottom part of their bodies will increase

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Horrible theory. Achilles tendons injuries are almost always non-contact injuries caused by an athlete pushing off hard on the foot and snapping the gastrocnemius muscle into action but instead severing it like an overtightened guitar string.

Case in point, Persa hurt his Achilles celebrating, Bowers in non-contact drills, Suggs as well, heck, Vinny Testaverde did his backing away from center.

There is no concrete theory that can pigeon hole all Achilles injuries other than athletes not listening to the warning signs of a possible Achilles injury in the making. Achilles that snap are usually, but not always, tight or tender before they are injured but not to the point that they are crippling, just slight discomforts… and then one day they athlete either doesn’t warm up properly (not by static stretching but by dynamic stretching designed to increase core muscle temperature) or over fatigues the muscle.