Achilles Tendon

[[old] seat5]

It's just one (*&*^% thing after the other!<br><br>The other day when I was rowing, barefoot as usual, I started feeling discomfort on the back my left leg, right above the heel. I'm rowing on a new-to-me Model C, so I thought that maybe I just had my foot in a slightly different position than on the Model B and was getting a blister, so I kept rowing but shifted the foot around so it wouldn't rub so. But when I stopped I realized that the feeling wasn't from abrasion, it was internal, a slightly sore Achilles tendon. <br><br>I haven't dared row since then, as it's very tender going up and down stairs or if I push hard off the toes. I'm hoping a lay off will nip it in the bud. <br><br>Tomorrow I think I will give a try at rowing without really using that leg. My right leg is lots weaker anyway, so maybe a week or two of working the right one and letting the left one take a vacation will even things out--that is, if I can manage to row that way at all. Has anyone else had much success with managing this sort of injury?<br><br>Does anyone know if biking is ok with Achilles tendonitis?<br><br>Carla<br><br>

[[old] Bayko]

Unfortunately I had a lot of experience with a bad achilles in the 70's and 80's. Fortunately I solved the problem.<br><br>First the good news. At its worst I could ride a bike without pain. Also, as a TEMPORARY solution, putting lifts under your heels will keep the tendon from having to stretch as much and could allow erging as well. Go back to wearing shoes, with additional lfts if necessary, until all is well.<br><br>Long term. Ice the area after each workout, even if it doesn't hurt then, to keep inflamation in check. Keep doing this until you can get out of bed in the morning and take your first few steps without pain. Do stretching exercises for the calf muscles. Tight calves pull on the achilles. As the calves loosen stop using the heel lifts, and as they loosen all the way try going back to barefoot.<br><br>Rick

[[old] seat5]

That is good news! <br><br>When I was a kid (translated "dumb") I would just continue working out with stuff like this--eventually ending up with a much worse problem. Now I tend to be rather cautious; you start to realize that it's not worth it to bull your way through that last 10K, and then not walk for a month.<br><br>So it's really not a very severe case--but I don't want it to get severe, either! I can walk fine (just stairs bother it) and I've been doing a lot of stretching since about January anyway. I'll take your suggestion about rowing with shoes again. If it feels bothersome at all while rowing, even with the shoe, I don't think I'll continue until it's completely cleared up. <br><br>I am surprised that biking was OK. I haven't wanted to try it and find myself 10 miles out and gone gimpy. I would have thought the ankle motion of pedaling would aggravate the situation, but it sounds likeyour experience has been very different. I'll try a short little loop and see what happens.<br><br>Thanks for the encouragement! <br>Carla

[[old] John Rupp]

Soaking your feet in cold water and ice is great for getting rid of the inflammation, and pain, is strengthening and promotes healing.<br><br>Never use heat on an injury, as heat increases inflammation and pain, brings the blood to the surface, weakens the feet and delays healing.<br><br>Be very careful to never ever stretch a strained tendon. Rather, spend that time stretching your hamstrings and the rest of your legs. That will help to take the pressure off your achilles. Astanga (power) yoga sun salutations work well for this.<br><br>Avoid rubbing any vaseline or oil on your heels, as the solvents and petroleum compounds would also weaken your tendons.<br><br>Are your heels rubbing on something while you're rowing??? If so, that is most likely the primary cause of the injury. There should be nothing rubbing on your heels while rowing, running, cycling etc, including the heels of your shoes.<br><br>I've glued curved pieces of semi soft rubber to the backs of the footrests.<br><br>I row barefoot and never notice the rubber on my heels.

[[old] seat5]

I've always rowed barefoot, using "swing slings" that I got from Paul Smith, and never had any discomfort before. All I can think of is that the foot position may be a little different on this rower than my old B. The angle of the foot things seems a bit different.<br><br>

[[old] John Rupp]

Using straps around your heels to pull yourself back up the slide has got be extremely hard on your achilles tendons.<br><br>Just think, "all" the energy to come back up the slide is put directly on your tendons.<br><br>If you feel there's no pressure on your achilles from the straps, then removing them won't make any difference.<br><br>Try using the regular straps around your forefeet, or else strapless.<br><br>But... yikes.... don't put straps on your heels.

[[old] seat5]

The straps aren't for pulling on, and they don't help with that. I've been rowing with them since I started 2 years ago and never had a problem with them before. They keep your heels from getting beat up on the plastic Flex Foot contraption, so you don't need shoes or socks or to put tape or foam rubber on the Flex Foot. They are made of somewhat soft nylon webbing stuff and are just loops that are held under the arch area of the Flex Foot by Velcro. They hang downwards from there and your heels just gently rest in them. They are usually very comfortable. However, when I moved them from the B to the C I was in a hurry to try my new machine and didn't move the Velcro, I just put them under the Flex Foot. They do shift around and I think they might have been in a bad position because they weren't held down, and that might be why this happened.<br><br>Carla

[[old] adian]

Carla,<br><br>I have recently been having a problem with my achillies tendon as well... I'm not exactly sure how i injured it, but i believe it was helping a friend of mine move into an apartment without an elevator (she was on the top floor). all the climbing the stairs was NOT a good idea... and I was training for a marathon, so i kept running and erging as well and, well, it got way worse.<br><br>I went to physio though and she told me to stretch my calf (upper and lower) and to do this super fun exerise called heel drops to strengthen the calf muscles. its where you stand on stairs (or something similar) with just your toes (heels hanging off the edge) and slowly go up and down. try it, it may help, I now have very little pain, where as a few weeks ago I couldn't walk.<br><br>hope your heel feels better soon!<br> adian<br><br>ps. someone previously mentioned heel lifts... their a good idea, i tried them while running and they do make a difference