Painful calves

[Weelon]

Hi I have pain at the bottom of my calves due to repetitive running. I’ve been told it’s my Achilles’ tendon and it’s not it’s to do with the top half of my body not aligned. What type of professional do you suggest I see. I presume a hands on physio. I’ve been told to do yoga stretches. The cat, dog & swan etc. I also have been using a foam roller. Can anyone suggest anything?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

When you say repetitive running, what does your schedule look like?

Do have rest days?

How long have you been running?

Who told you it was to do with misalignment of your upper body and to do yoga stretches?

Are they someone you trust?

If it is your Achilles then eccentric heel drops while standing on a step, is generally effective.

[Weelon in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Yes I do have rest days & ive been running for years so I’m not new to it but never had any major injuries. I go about 4x a week. It was a physio at work & she doesn’t do hands on. I think she caters more for the health & safety side. I’ve only met her once. I’ve been doing the heel drops since receiving the pain. It hurts gradually when I run. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks for replying.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Weelon]

A hands on physio, especially a sports physio, would be your best bet.

The only true running injury that I ever had was a "tweaked" Achilles, which I treated by stopping running for about a month and doing eccentric heel drops several times each day.

We are not medically qualified, for the most part, on this forum, and it is in the guidelines that all advice received should be balanced against that of medical professionals.

Have you tried having a week off?

Has anything recently changed in your running pattern, either distance, frequency or intensity or surface that might have triggered this?

Have your shoes become worn?

[Weelon in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I understand I will not hold anyone responsible & I’ll appreciate the advice. I have laid off the running & replaced it with going on the bike, cross trainer or rower. Shall I rest from that too? I’m conscious my fitness will depreciate but I guess health comes first. Yes I need to find a sports physio, thanks. Nothing has changed with the training side apart from lockdown. I guess I wasn’t moving as much. Checked my shoes & they’re well known brand & in good nick. I’ve started putting in heel insoles too.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Weelon]

Has the issue started since you put in the heel insoles?

In respect of other exercise, in general that is good, but I would take advice from a physio.

[Weelon in reply to IannodaTruffe]

No. Thanks for your time.

[CBDB Graduate]

We have a sister forum called Strength & Flexibility, run by the same admin teams as Couch and Bridge forums. So feel free to hop over and see if there are posts that help you with anything to do with strength, fitness and mobility: healthunlocked.com/strength...

We also have a monthly post gathering, for everyone who does Yoga with Adriene: healthunlocked.com/strength...

Hope you find something that helps.