Rowing with achilles tendonitis

[Hanzo]

Hello people

I have been struggeling with achilles tendonitis for a way to long time, going on well over a year. Will go back to terapute to see what more we can do to help sort it out.

I don't do any running, but often on the feet, walking the dogs etc so I get a fair amount of steps in. I also do indoor rowing every other day, so 3-4 days a week, and have been doing that for years. One of the main reason I bought the erg was over achilles tendonitis many years ago, and I had to stop running. I had zero issues for many years, but it returned after a holiday with days and days of walking. Since then I have had limited success sorting ut out. I tried relaxing, but sitting on the sofa for weeks and weeks on end is not ideel.

But, with going on 2 years of this, I need to do something to resolve this. I have talked to a fysio terapute already, and will get another appointment again now.

I have euro size 42 feet, with the footrest sitting at 3. I try to keep the foot flat on the rest, and push with the heel to avoid pressing with the ball of the foot. Does anyone know if this would cause much or any real workout on the the achilles? I don't usually feel any pain after rowing. I dont usually feel pain during a walk, but after sitting down for abit and start walking again, the bad foot hurts for the first few steps and then starts to let go.

Do anyone else have some advice on if rowing is considered okay to do with achilles tendonitis? Any and all advice on achilles tendonitis is welcome as well, but my main worry is that rowing also aggrivates it, and in the end I'm stuck in the sofa watching the tube for the nest months...

[Parky]

How is your inward pronation?

Could it be Plantar Fasciitis?

If so, try shaped insoles such as Sorbethane.

[Hanzo]

Went to the fysio again, and it turns out I have a middle case of inward pronation. I currently barely use shows for rowing, I use a pair of diving slippers, just enough to avoid me having blisters. But they have zero sole, zero support. Never though about this having an impact, but yes possible good footwear would help.

[Parky]

I've suffered from PF for years now and find that support for the arches is essential.
Anti inflammatories help but I do try to stay off them. PF is caused by the softening of the tissues which protect the achilles, so see the quack and get him to refer you to a podiatrist.

[Franklin]

Hi Hanzo! I'm not a doctor and I'm not even recommending a treatment, I'm just telling you about my experience.
I've had this injury twice at Aquiles, first on the left foot, after completing a training cycle for my first Ironman, this in 2013, I recovered and did the Ironman 4 times more and run10 marathons.
At the beginning of the last year ,I had the injury again, when I was preparing for a marathon, this time the injury was on my right foot, I did the marathon in april and in october from 2019, I run my last marathon, before the pandemic mess.
The treatment I did the first time was through the application of shock waves, in fact they are high frequency sound waves that make the tendon vibrate and this breaks the calcifications that surround the tendon, and a lot of stretching.
The second time, I bought a massage gun, and did the applications at home, doing a lot of stretching too. Whenever I got home from run, I did ice applications for 20 min in the tendon.
I also started using an insole in my running shoes, which helped a lot.
And always using C2, especially in the critical phase. That is my experience. Talk to your doctor and be patient that you will recover. Good luck.

[MiddleAgeCRISIS]

I use a massage gun on my calf muscles and lower legs. I do 7 minutes on each area. I use an electric jigsaw with a massage tip.

It is effective for breaking down scar tissue and mobilising fascia and may lessen tension in your achilles.