Thread: Achilles Heel

Sounds like you have chronic inflammation / tendonitis or strain. Yes, see your physician, and use rest, ice to help reduce the pain and swelling. You are also correct that there is a biomechanical issue, likely to do with the lack of proper flexion in the arch of your foot. You'll need to see an orthopedics specialist, as you will probably need orthotics correction for your feet. As well, you need to have your athletic shoes looked at; chances are they are improperly fitted or worn. Improper or worn shoes will cause biomechanical issues in stride, and that can cause a chain of injuries between the foot and hip/lower back.

Your doctor or PT will provide you with exercises to strengthen the tendon, once the damage has been assessed, injury reduced and you've been given the OK to for strengthening physical therapy.

P-funk may elect to answer you question on exercises. At this point, before you have seen a physician, I'm hesitant to recommend strengthening exercises.

if you go to the doctor and he concludes that what you do have is achillies tendonitis, then strengthening exercises aren't going to help you. Think about tendonitis and what it is. Itis = inflamation. So it is inflamation of the tendon, in this case the achillies tendon. What you need to do is get that inflamation down. Ice, rest, yada, yada. After that, you need to figure out WHY you have inflamation. Think about it....If have rotator cuff tendonitis, am I going to want to do more shoulder work? NO. The tendonitis is already telling me that I have an overworked. It is an overuse injury.

For some reason, your achillies tendon is experiencing tissue trauma. Could be the flat footed (over pronation) you are talking about. Best place to start is to find someone that does gait analysis and have it looked at. Especially if you are looking to do something like run a half marathon! The last thing you want is a movement impairment during marathon training. You need to have someone evaluate your walking and running technique. After that, the corrective exercise program writes itself.