Achiles area stiffness

[Crackle]

I'm not actually sure if it's my achiles but it's in that neck of the woods.

Basically it's stiff when I get up from having my leg stretched out, worse after a walk but really it's there anytime now. It's not so bad it's stopping me doing anything but it's not going away. It started a few months ago after running but it didn't stop me running, it loosens up quickly. I haven't run for a few weeks now though and I still have it.

Anyone any suggestions as to what it could be and how to treat it, stretching maybe. Like I said it's not incapacitating me and I don't think it's serious enough to warrant medical intervention but having had it for a while I'd like to sort it out.

 

[mr Mag00]

try this

 

[ventoux50]

Possibly achilles tendinitis
(unlikely to be soleus as that is primarily involved with posture as opposed to movement)

If you are still able to do most things normally then probably a low grade minor tear to some muscle fibres. (Gastrocnemius muscle)

Self massage is the cheapest method of dealing with it, warm the back of the leg first with a hot water bottle (including tendon) for 5 minutes then get your fingers and thumbs in there - gently at first, see if you can feel any lumps/ thickenings, if you find some massage them with quite firm pressure but be sure to perform the movement from side to side (this helps to break down scar tissue and encourages the fibres to re-align correctly)

after massaging stretch and then perform 5 - 10 heel raises (stand with toes on a step, allow the heel to drop down (stretch) and then raise up onto tip toes.)

finally apply ice for 2 mins on / 5 mins off for 15 mins. and apply ibuprofen gel at the end.


Hope that helps.

My invoice is in the post.

 

[Crackle]

Thanks Mr.M, I actually use that stretching excercise but as Ventoux says it's not that muscle but it does also stretch the achiles as well which does help.

I think you are more on the mark Ventoux, a minor muscle fibre problem. I'll go down the route of massage first and see if that helps.

 

[Willo]

I ended up with achilles problems from running. I left it too late and ended up taking almost a year to sort it and even now I have to be careful. Suppose what I'm saying is if it persists it's worth getting some physio. Good news was that cycling was fine for me, it's just running that aggravates it.

 

[The Sport Scientist]

try this

Good video, but as well as that stretch I'd also recommend doing simple ankle stretches too.

Point foot to the sky, then to the floor, then left, then right (holding each direction for 8 secs), and then rotate ankle 5 times clockwise, then 5 anticlockwise.

As doing this will prepare your ankle and any tendons, ligaments and muscles associated with that area for the upcoming run/exercise.