achiles help

[mrsreem]

I believe it's a pretty common injury, but I keep injuring and re-injuring my achiles tendon. (I assume. the pain refers to just behind my ankle bone but is tender on the very back of my heel.)

Is there anything I can do to protect it while running? Maybe an orthotic wedge under my heel? Is there such thing? I don't want to keep building up scar tissue, but I hate to stop running for an extended period of time as well.

Any thoughts on getting it to release? I can only get it to warm up for a short amount of time. The second I sit, it's stiff and sore again. Would this be a good application for a foam roller on my calf? The calf muscle is attached, right?

[Deleted]

I'd see a doc to make sure you know what you're injuring, but as for getting it to release, ice therapy + rolling (not at the same time!) should help.

[texassmith]

You will need a break from running. I just dealt with exactly what you are describing (plus bursitis too) and took 2 weeks off running to let it heal. Rest, ice, and take Advil to help with the swelling (3 Advil 3x/day). No compression wraps. Foam rolling your calf will definitely help, as will static lunges -- start with rear leg straight and hold for 30 seconds, then bend it as much as you can without excruciating pain, and hold that for 30 seconds too. Do a few reps daily and it will help lengthen your Achilles to avoid future injury.

[Deleted]

Ditto PP. Rest combined with ice, ibuprofen, and daily stretching (forever, really) is the only thing that keeps mine away. The good thing about seeing a doctor or a sports therapist is getting the right stretches to go with it. I could not just do any stretch I wanted to at first. I had to build up to just doing lunges.

Also, you can overstretch which does more harm. If you feel pain, back out of the stretch or don't do it until you have built up to it.