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Episode #53: Full Achilles Tendon Rupture with Dr. Martin Hsieh, PT | A non-surgical approach to rehabilitation & return to competitive powerlifting
Tearing your Achilles tendon is a major injury that may require surgery. But do you need to have surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon? Surgery is not the only answer and it is possible to return to powerlifting and continue to hit PRs if you work hard and continue to barbell train during the rehabilitation process.
Martin Hsieh is a physical therapist, parent of five children, recreational basketball player, and competitive powerlifter. In July of 2022 he sustained a full rupture of his Achilles tendon. Like most foot and ankle injuries that affect one’s ability to barbell train, this injury was not sustained while powerlifting, but during a recreational league basketball game.
After the shock of the injury wore off, Martin consulted with a few of his physical therapy associates, and two orthopedists regarding his options for recovery. After a few weeks he decided that it was in his best interest to approach his Achilles rehabilitation without surgery and shares the story of his return to competitive powerlifting in less than a year.
In this episode of the PRS Podcast, we discuss:
How he tore his Achilles tendon playing basketball and what factors played into the injury presenting itself in that moment
The role that fatigue accumulation plays in injury development
The two injuries he wouldn’t want to sustain given his experience as a physical therapist
Why he elected not to have surgery to repair a full rupture of his Achilles tendon and how he approach rehab insead
When he resumed barbell training and what modifications he to help him continue without interruption
What he would differently if he tore his Achilles again
If and how he plans to go back to playing basketball after an Achilles rupture
His best piece of advice for injured athletes when determine what course of action to take next
The purpose of this podcast interview is to help athletes feel less alone when experiencing serious injuries affecting one or both limbs. As well, we provide coaches and clinicians with tools to help barbell athletes process their injuries and continue to train even when training is not ideal.
Martin graduated from University of Maryland College Park in 2008 with a BS in cell biology and molecular genetics. He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2012 from University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Martin is a board certified myofascial trigger point therapist who performs trigger point dry needling as well as a level II certified instrumental assisted soft tissue mobilization clinician.
He believes that making his patients stronger and moving better with less pain is the key to improving their quality of life. He is an advocate for strength training for patients of all ages and incorporates barbell, kettlebell, and body weight exercises into his treatment regularly. Physical therapy does not have to be therabands and boring table exercises!
In his free time Martin enjoys spending time with his family, basketball, and golf. Since 2014 he has become a semi-competitive powerlifter and is currently a top 100 lifter in the nation in his weight class. He continues to pursue his powerlifting goal in his free time and plans to compete nationally if the timing is right.
Connect with Martin on Instagram @needles_and_deadlifts
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Dr. Rori Alter, PT, PRSCC : [00:00:24] I'm your host, Dr. Rory Alter, head clinical coach here at Progressive Rehab & Strength, interviewing today Martin Hsieh, a physical therapist and competitive powerlifter and father of five. In this episode, what we're going to be talking about is Martin's experience with an Achilles full rupture. You have a pretty unique story because you decided to go the non-surgical route, so we're going to dive deeply into that. But what I love about you is that you are a physical therapist and a powerlifter who went through a massive injury that could potentially really impact your powerlifting career and your ability to participate in the sport, your family life, and your work life. I'm sure it impacted everything that you were doing because when you have a tear, especially in the Achilles tendon, you're pretty much non-weight bearing for a little bit. You've actually been able to compete two times since you rehabbed your ruptured Achilles tendon non-surgically. So, before we dive into that, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. I'm very excited to chat about all of this. Why don't you go ahead and introduce yourself? Tell us a little bit about your educational and professional background and a little bit about your hobbies that may or may not include powerlifting and your family life.
Dr. Martin Hsieh, PT: [00:02:19] All right. So, my name is Martin Hsieh. I graduated from University of Maryland with a genetics degree.
Dr. Rori Alter, PT, PRSCC : [00:02:26] Oh, interesting.
Dr. Martin Hsieh, PT: [00:02:27] Yeah. I graduated in 2008 and then got into PT school and then graduated from University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2012. I've been an outpatient therapist since then with the same company. So what is that, 11 years now?
Dr. Rori Alter, PT, PRSCC : [00:02:46] Yeah. No, I graduated in 2012 also from PT school. It's crazy that just like that we are in our 11th year.
Dr. Martin Hsieh, PT: [00:02:55] Yeah, that's crazy to me.
Dr. Rori Alter, PT, PRSCC : [00:02:56] We're old folks over here.
Dr. Martin Hsieh, PT: [00:03:01] I didn't get into powerlifting, maybe until 2014 is when I first started training. Prior to that, I would say my main hobbies were basketball. I played basketball growing up. That wasn't my wisest choice, looking back now, being at 5'6".
Dr. Rori Alter, PT, PRSCC : [00:03:23] Oh, yeah. So you're pretty short for a basketball player, right? When you played basketball, did you have any injuries?
Dr. Martin Hsieh, PT: [00:03:30] You know, just the normal jumper's knee for a year or two when I was growing up. I actually dislocated my elbow during my senior year of high school and then freshman year of college back to back. It was right and then left.
Dr. Rori Alter, PT, PRSCC : [00:03:49] Oh, jeez. So, did you have physical therapy for those?
Dr. Martin Hsieh, PT: [00:03:56] I did not. I kind of just worked it out on my own, you know, kind of like forced youth therapy, you know?
Dr. Rori Alter, PT, PRSCC : [00:04:03] Yeah. Well, honestly, sometimes that's the best kind of therapy, because I feel like people stop using things and then they get worse.
Dr. Martin Hsieh, PT: [00:04:13] That's what I tell my all my frozen shoulder patients, that if you don't use it, it's going to get stiffer. Just keep using it, but to your tolerance.
Dr. Rori Alter, PT, PRSCC : [00:04:23] Yeah.
Dr. Martin Hsieh, PT: [00:04:24] I also golf for a little bit. I've been golfing since maybe middle school, and then I took a little break. When I found out I was having twins, I kind of picked up powerlifting more because it's not as time consuming compared to golf.
Dr. Rori Alter, PT, PRSCC : [00:04:44] Right.
Dr. Martin Hsieh, PT: [00:04:45] And basketball, you can't really play by yourself. You got to drive to the gym, which is a half an hour trip, and then play.
Dr. Rori Alter, PT, PRSCC : [00:04:52] Yeah. You're with everybody's schedule. It's a scheduled time versus just going to the gym when you have a minute.
Dr. Martin Hsieh, PT: [00:05:02] Right. So I started setting up my home gym back in 2013 when I found out my wife was pregnant. I began training pretty much at home and at the clinic exclusively since then.