It's hard to say really what is the worst form of musculo-skeletal dysfunction you can get, but for persistent, nagging pain and utter frustration, Achilles tendonitis is hard to beat.
No matter what you do, how much treatment you have it just won't go away.
You're busting to get back into your exercise training program.
You love running and playing sport, but every time you think you've got it beat, BAMMO, it comes back with a vengeance.
Then, just when you've got one Achilles fixed, the other one goes.
There's another 12 months down the drain.
So what can you do? Well the first thing is to take it easy, back off, give the Achilles a rest.
And while you're doing that start tracking down the cause.
According to Egoscue's principle, it is unlikely to be at the site of the pain.
This means that all the rubbing, heating, icing and shocking at the spot where it hurts, whilst useful and palliative is unlikely to get to the seat of the problem.
So where do you look? Answer, below the tendon and above it.
To fix the problem below the tendon you're probably going to need new running shoes.
In fact, as you get older or start running longer distances you have to play close attention to the age of your shoes.
Achilles tendonitis is a sign your shoes are worn out, or you've got the wrong type of shoe.
The undoing of a lot of people was buying cross-trainers instead of running shoes.
So buy a new pair of running shoes and buy a second pair a couple of months after the first pair and keep rotating them.
Get your shoes from a shop which specializes in running shoes, where there is someone competent to give you advice and sell you the right shoe for your feet and the distances you run.
Then it's off to the podiatrist to check your foot strike.
If your feet are leaning in or out when you run you'll need wedges or orthotics.
Don't argue! Looking further up the leg there's a high likelihood that you have tight calves.
And why do you have tight calves? Because you probably have tight hamstring and buttock muscles.
There is also a high likelihood that the calf on the leg with Achilles tendonitis will be tighter than the other.
The reason for this is that your body is twisted and the leg with the tendonitis is taking more than its share of the load.
The reason for the twist is probably because the thigh and buttock of the opposite leg are tight.
There are specific exercises you can do to identify which muscles are tight and to loosen them up.
Why are the muscles on one side of your body tighter than those on the other? Habitual posture and the effect of hand and foot dominance over the years when hitting, throwing and kicking.
You need a set of exercises to loosen off calf, thigh and buttock muscles.
Most therapists will only give you the calf stretches and on their own they don't do a lot to improve the condition; necessary but not sufficient.
Having said that there is a device you can use to loosen up your calves, 'The Stick'.
It's the ultimate massage 'machine' for tight calves.
You'll need to use it up to 10 times a day for a couple of minutes on each calf.
You can use it to massage yourself but it's better if you can get someone else to do it on you.
The secret to using 'The Stick' is not to stop using it when you think you're fixed.
And don't even think of stopping the calf, hamstring and buttock loosening exercises - ever.
One thing to remember is the synergistic effect of many things acting in concert that will, bit by bit contribute to fixing your Achilles tendonitis.
Icing is important.
Purchase a set of lunch-box ice packs and put them down the back of your socks or a pair of neoprene anklets 24/7.
A magnet wrap may help, I'd suggest you try it.
Two final thoughts.
Cross training on the stepper, the elliptical, the bike, the rower or the climber will help maintain your aerobic fitness without the jarring affect of running - and don't forget to strengthen as well as loosen your calf muscles.
In the meantime stay tuned, highly tuned and remember, a lot helping a little helps a lot.
John Miller
No matter what you do, how much treatment you have it just won't go away.
You're busting to get back into your exercise training program.
You love running and playing sport, but every time you think you've got it beat, BAMMO, it comes back with a vengeance.
Then, just when you've got one Achilles fixed, the other one goes.
There's another 12 months down the drain.
So what can you do? Well the first thing is to take it easy, back off, give the Achilles a rest.
And while you're doing that start tracking down the cause.
According to Egoscue's principle, it is unlikely to be at the site of the pain.
This means that all the rubbing, heating, icing and shocking at the spot where it hurts, whilst useful and palliative is unlikely to get to the seat of the problem.
So where do you look? Answer, below the tendon and above it.
To fix the problem below the tendon you're probably going to need new running shoes.
In fact, as you get older or start running longer distances you have to play close attention to the age of your shoes.
Achilles tendonitis is a sign your shoes are worn out, or you've got the wrong type of shoe.
The undoing of a lot of people was buying cross-trainers instead of running shoes.
So buy a new pair of running shoes and buy a second pair a couple of months after the first pair and keep rotating them.
Get your shoes from a shop which specializes in running shoes, where there is someone competent to give you advice and sell you the right shoe for your feet and the distances you run.
Then it's off to the podiatrist to check your foot strike.
If your feet are leaning in or out when you run you'll need wedges or orthotics.
Don't argue! Looking further up the leg there's a high likelihood that you have tight calves.
And why do you have tight calves? Because you probably have tight hamstring and buttock muscles.
There is also a high likelihood that the calf on the leg with Achilles tendonitis will be tighter than the other.
The reason for this is that your body is twisted and the leg with the tendonitis is taking more than its share of the load.
The reason for the twist is probably because the thigh and buttock of the opposite leg are tight.
There are specific exercises you can do to identify which muscles are tight and to loosen them up.
Why are the muscles on one side of your body tighter than those on the other? Habitual posture and the effect of hand and foot dominance over the years when hitting, throwing and kicking.
You need a set of exercises to loosen off calf, thigh and buttock muscles.
Most therapists will only give you the calf stretches and on their own they don't do a lot to improve the condition; necessary but not sufficient.
Having said that there is a device you can use to loosen up your calves, 'The Stick'.
It's the ultimate massage 'machine' for tight calves.
You'll need to use it up to 10 times a day for a couple of minutes on each calf.
You can use it to massage yourself but it's better if you can get someone else to do it on you.
The secret to using 'The Stick' is not to stop using it when you think you're fixed.
And don't even think of stopping the calf, hamstring and buttock loosening exercises - ever.
One thing to remember is the synergistic effect of many things acting in concert that will, bit by bit contribute to fixing your Achilles tendonitis.
Icing is important.
Purchase a set of lunch-box ice packs and put them down the back of your socks or a pair of neoprene anklets 24/7.
A magnet wrap may help, I'd suggest you try it.
Two final thoughts.
Cross training on the stepper, the elliptical, the bike, the rower or the climber will help maintain your aerobic fitness without the jarring affect of running - and don't forget to strengthen as well as loosen your calf muscles.
In the meantime stay tuned, highly tuned and remember, a lot helping a little helps a lot.
John Miller
SHARE
