Achilles tendinitis - best remedy and best tennis shoes - Anyone? Help!
This year when I bought 2 new pairs of shoes I started noticing some pain in my achilles tendons. I kept coaching and playing tennis 2/3 times a week, high level tennis and just loving it.
Now its pretty bad. I just ordered Aircast Airheel Ankle Braces and once I get them plan to buy better shoes.
Has anyone experienced this problem and have you gotten better and what did you do that through your personal experience helped remedy it?
I just can's stop coaching or playing.....I love it too much...there has to be a fix. This is my first Achilles problem ever in my life.
Would appreciate any advice even though I have been icing and doing some research on stretching etc.
Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by CoachV - William Vazquez on -
Concourse Pro Shop shared William Vazquez's photo.
This is probably the most comfortable tennis shoe that we've ever carried..
-
Permalink Reply by CoachV - William Vazquez on
-
the wilson Rush PRO
is so comfy that i bought 4 pair.
-
Permalink Reply by Mark / The Mayor on
-
Sorry to hear that you have gotten this ailment. I had it before in a minor case, and for me I just rested it, then stretched often. It is gone for now, but I worry that it could come back. I know that tennis players hate hearing the "r" word because we love playing so much, but the key is rest... Here's the info I found online:
Nonsurgical Treatment
In most cases, nonsurgical treatment options will provide pain relief, although it may take a few months for symptoms to completely subside. Even with early treatment, the pain may last longer than 3 months. If you have had pain for several months before seeking treatment, it may take 6 months before treatment methods take effect.
Rest. The first step in reducing pain is to decrease or even stop the activities that make the pain worse. If you regularly do high-impact exercises (such as running), switching to low-impact activities will put less stress on the Achilles tendon. Cross-training activities such as biking, elliptical exercise, and swimming are low-impact options to help you stay active.
Ice. Placing ice on the most painful area of the Achilles tendon is helpful and can be done as needed throughout the day. This can be done for up to 20 minutes and should be stopped earlier if the skin becomes numb. A foam cup filled with water and then frozen creates a simple, reusable ice pack. After the water has frozen in the cup, tear off the rim of the cup. Then rub the ice on the Achilles tendon. With repeated use, a groove that fits the Achilles tendon will appear, creating a "custom-fit" ice pack.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen reduce pain and swelling. They do not, however, reduce the thickening of the degenerated tendon. Using the medication for more than 1 month should be reviewed with your primary care doctor.
Exercise. The following exercise can help to strengthen the calf muscles and reduce stress on the Achilles tendon.
- Calf stretch
Lean forward against a wall with one knee straight and the heel on the ground. Place the other leg in front, with the knee bent. To stretch the calf muscles and the heel cord, push your hips toward the wall in a controlled fashion. Hold the position for 10 seconds and relax. Repeat this exercise 20 times for each foot. A strong pull in the calf should be felt during the stretch.
Physical Therapy. Physical therapy is very helpful in treating Achilles tendinitis. It has proven to work better for noninsertional tendinitis than for insertional tendinitis.
Eccentric Strengthening Protocol. Eccentric strengthening is defined as contracting (tightening) a muscle while it is getting longer. Eccentric strengthening exercises can cause damage to the Achilles tendon if they are not done correctly. At first, they should be performed under the supervision of a physical therapist. Once mastered with a therapist, the exercises can then be done at home. These exercises may cause some discomfort, however, it should not be unbearable.
- Bilateral heel drop
Stand at the edge of a stair, or a raised platform that is stable, with just the front half of your foot on the stair. This position will allow your heel to move up and down without hitting the stair. Care must be taken to ensure that you are balanced correctly to prevent falling and injury. Be sure to hold onto a railing to help you balance.
Lift your heels off the ground then slowly lower your heels to the lowest point possible. Repeat this step 20 times. This exercise should be done in a slow, controlled fashion. Rapid movement can create the risk of damage to the tendon. As the pain improves, you can increase the difficulty level of the exercise by holding a small weight in each hand.
- Single leg heel drop
This exercise is performed similarly to the bilateral heel drop, except that all your weight is focused on one leg. This should be done only after the bilateral heel drop has been mastered.
Cortisone injections. Cortisone, a type of steroid, is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication. Cortisone injections into the Achilles tendon are rarely recommended because they can cause the tendon to rupture (tear).
Supportive shoes and orthotics. Pain from insertional Achilles tendinitis is often helped by certain shoes, as well as orthotic devices. For example, shoes that are softer at the back of the heel can reduce irritation of the tendon. In addition, heel lifts can take some strain off the tendon.
Heel lifts are also very helpful for patients with insertional tendinitis because they can move the heel away from the back of the shoe, where rubbing can occur. They also take some strain off the tendon. Like a heel lift, a silicone Achilles sleeve can reduce irritation from the back of a shoe.
If your pain is severe, your doctor may recommend a walking boot for a short time. This gives the tendon a chance to rest before any therapy is begun. Extended use of a boot is discouraged, though, because it can weaken your calf muscle.
- Calf stretch
-
Permalink Reply by CoachV - William Vazquez on
-
That was no sales Pitch.... it was an ad I ran....at the Concourse Pro Shop....but the reason why i ran the ad is because The show really does work. if you have Leg problems you should try on that shoe. its like walking on pillows. & if you are coaching and standing still for long hours you will need a comfy shoe and also a performance shoe in case you have to prove yourself to some kids. This is by far a great shoe and will help. I gotten splints & Achilles aches from shoes with not enough cushion & support. Also you might want to change your shoe earlier before the sole wears out. I have found that my knees and Achilles acts up around when the heal of the shoe wears thin from the side to side movement....the shoe is still good but the angle of the wear causes me leg problems.
Also keep your sneakers from getting too wet. it will stretch out the material and you will lose support and also feel pain. Also see a trainer..... there might be a muscle unbalance around the foot & Leg causing the problem.
-
Permalink Reply by CoachV - William Vazquez on
-
yeah the other players that didn't like the wilsons gave examples of having the Asics GEL. But as a coach your tennis shoes are tennis equipment and deductible in taxes. so the $400 I spent with my sponsorship discount with wilson I can write off.
-
Permalink Reply by phillip k. on
-
I am not a doctor but I learned regarding tennis elbow that any tendon problem and damage often occurs because the muscles around the tendon are not strong enough to share the load thus putting much more strain on the tendon causing the -itis
once the pain is gone, i would check in with a physical therapist about strengthing the muscles around that region to lighten the load.
-
-
Ummm. this sounds like good advice for me - I gotta hit the gym - I think I have 3 target areas now.
-
Permalink Reply by phillip k. on
-
thats so great! for those of you who want to see her twitter picture you can find it here. Really happy that you are almost out of the pain forrest!
-
Permalink Reply by Doug Ingbretsen on
-
Do you have a normal arch, low or high?
Also, do you have a pair of well-worn flat sole shoes that you only walk or run in? These may give some clues. Your tennis shoes may also, but may be skewed by your court footwork.
Do you perform any lower body strength training? Oh, how young are you?
I may have some suggestions on correction, but let's take a look at prevention.
Okay, I'll shut up.
I'm sending you a friend request and I'll post an article I wrote related to this.
Ciao.
Play the Game!
-
Permalink Reply by Thomas C on
-
For the past 3 years my achilles is sore after being on the court for about 1.5 hours. If I can sit down between games it goes away for a while also it goes away around 15 minutes after I stop playing. I am starting to try some stretching exercise and also light massage around the tendon. I will see if it helps over the next few weeks
-
Permalink Reply by Kevin Breault on
-
Stretching and light massage definitely cannot hurt!
You can also try Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Many people claimed significant results and it also cannot hurt. Sources of glucosamine include:
-Soup from boiled whole chicken (My personal favorite, most bioavailable source)
-Supplements (all-in-one AceFormula, or simply pharmacy's glucosamine + chondroitin capsules)
Disclaimer: I am a AceFormula rep.
© 2024 Created by Mark / The Mayor.
Powered by
