• Two healthy Achilles tendons •
[1½ MIN READ]
For the last 5 years, I’ve had some significant problems with both Achilles tendons. First it was the right. Then a year later, the left demanded equal time. Both times, I finally went to a good physical therapy clinic and recovered. Each time I got lazy and stopped doing the therapy. Although it wasn’t a problem for the right, the left became so vulnerable after a few episodes of aggravation that I finally ended up partially tearing it. Surgery was an option, but the certainty of 2 years of recovery and retraining was more-than-slightly disincentivizing. That good clinic brought me back to full functionality again.
Since last year, both tendons have been healthy. For me, one stretch (dynamic calf stretch) has done the trick in particular. And not just for the tendons. Every calf strain and hamstring pull has sent me to that stretch. So finally, I’m doing it consistently in tandem with a calf exercise (single calf raise). Why only one each? I’m lazy and they work. N.B.: I am not a physical therapist and I’m not offering medical advice. They happen to work extremely well for me.
A.A.Ron is working on a fall half marathon and he’s been champing at the bit to do speed work. Last week, he, Train Dave, and I decided to intersperse some fartleks with the rest of the group run to help him out. For me, they were exhausting after doing little speed work over the previous months. But guess what about the tendons? They held up. It was only when I got home that I realized: They are healthy. Good feelings for both ego and ankles. Nope, not again.
-CtCloser (Calvinthe), “Negative split or positive splat” #dothedue
FINE PRINT
¶Text and photos (unless otherwise stated): Calvin Wang (Wäng), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. ¶Cross-posted: (1) Facebook JRC Growlers Group Run (2023’08’16’W Run Message), (2) GGR email list, (3) Cerebruns by CtCloser. ¶This website posting: Cerebrun only with added caption.
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