So You Think You Can Dance?

Any faithful follower of the hit television show "So You Think You Can Dance" was devastated Thursday night over the loss of Alex Wong due to a lacerated Achilles tendon. Before joining the show, Alex Wong was a principal soloist in the Miami City Ballet, he landed the spot at age seventeen! He also worked with the American Ballet Theatre. Alex first auditioned for "So You Think You Can Dance" last year and he was extremely close to the top twenty but had to decline because of his contract with the ballet, but this year he was back and doing extremely well until his injury on Wednesday.

Alex suffered an injury to his Achilles tendon, a tendon that connects the heel bone to the calf muscle.  The tendon allows you to rise up on demi-pointe and to push off when you walk. 
An injury to the tendon can be caused by overuse, misalignment (unequal leg length or tight calf muscles), improper footwear, or an accident. 

Alex's injury was a lacerated Achilles, basically the Achilles tendon detached from the bone. Some Achilles problems are treated simply with orthotics and some require surgery. He announced that he planned to under go surgery to correct the injury.  Alex was also advised to rest for a period of at least three months. 

Some common Achilles tendon problems include,  Achilles tendon tear, Achilles tendon rupture, Achilles tendinosis and Achilles tendinitis.

Here Are a Few Ways to Prevent an Injury to the Achilles Tendon

• Stay in Shape!
• Warm-Up!
• Stretch the tendon.
• Strengthen the tendon.
• Address an injury as soon as possible, delaying treatment will only worsen the injury.