Caused Achilles Tendonitis while rowing—need advice

[WillDo]

Over the summer, I went too hard too fast on the erg and gave myself Achilles tendinitis. It’s been a long and frustrating battle since, and I really need advice. From what I understand, erging shouldn’t be hurting my Achilles like it is, and I should be able to row even during Achilles recovery. But I simply can’t. It must be a form problem, but what should I be changing? I am exasperated and really hoping someone can help me.

[Sakly]

Hi,

any tendonitis should not be loaded with the same activity which lead to the tendonitis. I think this makes sense.
I would skip rowing for at least 1-2 weeks and give it some time to recover with only mild activity overall.

The root cause could be a massive heel raise under high pressure over long periods on the rower.
Two parts of the solution:
1. Increase overall volume slowly to get All tendons and muscles used to it. Tendons need much longer time.
2. Increase Mobility of you foot ankles. Less heel raise will lower stress on the achilles. I can row with flat foot, I feel no stress on calfs or achilles at all.

[WillDo]

I've taken multi-week breaks from erging over the summer, but the problem persists whenever I come back. What can I do?

[jamesg]

If you think the source of the problem is mechanical from rowing, then if at all do it on the backstop only, keeping your heels down and back straight.

Can you climb stairs? Steps are around 18cm in height, and the resulting rotation angles of heel and knee are small. Presumably the larger these angles and the higher the loads, the higher the risk.

So if you start again, row on low drag only and keep your seat well away from the feet. A rope tied round the rail at about 50cm from the footplates should suffice to limit angles.

[Tsnor]

Find a sports doctor. If what they say doesn't make sense find another.

Let someone who treated this 10 times a month for the last 10 years tell you what is wrong. Once you are sure what you have is Achilles tendinitis there are tons of self help on the web, and your doctor might be able to get insurance/gov't to pay for physical therapy.

Life is too short for Achilles problems.

example web self help stuff if it is Achilles tendinitis https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-con ... c-20369025