2 weeks ago I managed to inflame my right anterior tibial tendon (there’s inflammation in the surrounding muscle too, a bit) from having a shoe tied too tightly (yes, it’s the third time that’s happened, and I’ve re-laced my shoes so hopefully it won’t be an issue again). The shoe felt a little tight and I didn’t stop and re-tie it because I, um, didn’t want to interrupt my run. Yes, I’m a dumb bunny sometimes. Anyway - my physical therapist has been doing ultrasound on it to help settle it down. I CAN run - and did 12 mi this morning, I’m lacking a little range of motion and it’s a little inflamed, but settling down nicely. Bothers me more in the pool, I don’t have my full ROM for kicking.
Physical therapy goes like this: heat, stretch calves, stretch anterior tibialis muscles, ultrasound. It usually feels good after that.
Here’s my idea:
Wearing a pair of heels (rather than old running sneakers :P) would keep the muscle stretched out for most of the day, so it wouldn’t wind up all tight/stiff by the end of the day. My thought is that it could help with some of the ROM.
am I missing something that could make this a bad idea? I know I’ll have to do more calf stretches if I’m going to walk around in heels. The only downside I can see is that heels and the compression socks I’ve been wearing non-stop since I got them last week might look a little wierd
edit - yes I realize this is something I should just ask my PT but she’s already given me enough attention today between the tendonitis and my right shoulder so I don’t want to bug her again…
Wearing a pair of heels (rather than old running sneakers :P) would keep the muscle stretched out for most of the day, so it wouldn’t wind up all tight/stiff by the end of the day. My thought is that it could help with some of the ROM.
shame on you. Someone smart capped my mileage at 45 mpw to keep me from doing that I think… I was all set to go 50, 55, 60 (ok, I probably wouldn’t have attempted 60).
have been mixing treadmill running with water running 'til this goes away.
Seeing as how you’ve been very open about the number of leg injuries you’ve incurred this past year, training through all of them, do you maybe think it might be a good idea for you to take some extended time off to rest and heal?
I had to put slice the heal of the shoe because it was pushing on the tendon. That was about a year and a half ago. Felt better almost immediately but it took about 6 months for it to go away completely. But, I suspect that the length of time it took was more age related. Took a lot of courage to slice the heal of a brand new pair of Brooks but my wife said I looked like shit in heels.
I’m not sure that it will help overall, but it might. Give it a try.
Just to be stupid, the pain you feel is when you contract your calf and straighten your ankle right?
If so, then it seems like wearing the heels might just be a replacement for a good slow warm-up to your runs/swims.
I can see heels being a better solution for an aggravated achilles…ie. going the other way.
I think it could help and I see where you’re going with it, but heels are so bad for your body in every other way that I would think the detriments that could come from wearing the heels highly outweigh the benefits that you *might *get from wearing them.
I did the same thing in 2006/2007 (Extensor tendinosis from tight shoes on a long run). Laid off the running and used topical anti-inflammatory over the tendon. Went away pretty quick.
Bad bad bad. I used to have similar problems and I wore heels quite a bit. I stopped wearing them at work about 5 yrs ago and it has made a huge difference.
leg injuries this year - IT band stuff that foam roller has pretty much cured (I just have to play with the thing twice a day), and 3x the tendonitises… I can’t think of anything else??? Oct 9 will mark a year sfx free at least!
time off is fine (well, sort of). but if it can be run through and adapted somehow I’d rather try that first.
yes, soreness with calf contraction and ankle extension. Initially that foot would kind of ‘slap’ on the ground a bit more than the left with walking, like I didn’t have the control to let it down ‘gently’ - not an issue anymore as it’s getting better
“yes, soreness with calf contraction and ankle extension. Initially that foot would kind of ‘slap’ on the ground a bit more than the left with walking, like I didn’t have the control to let it down ‘gently’ - not an issue anymore as it’s getting better”
FYI in case you didn’t know…when your foot “slaps” on the ground like you don’t have control of it that might be a really big problem. It’s could be “anterior compartment syndrome”.
I had that back in 1981 and it took forever to get over. Even now I don’t have really good feeling in my right shin area.
That’s something that CAN cause very serious permanent trouble
