Do Tight Calves Cause Achilles Tendinopathy?

[@carysouthern]

I dealt with Achilles’ tendon problems last year, finally found some relief after my therapist sent me to his coworker for dry needling on my calves. It was incredibly painful but helpful. I started to realize my tight calves were the source of my problems and went for some deep tissue massages. That and learning to stretch my calves properly did the trick and a few months later I was good to go, just need to keep up with the stretches now.

[@JK-241]

mine was caused by tight hamstrings! I stretched those and had relief, finally.

[@JOAFITNESSNews]

I like to use the lacrosse ball and decompress the sole of the feet, so good!

[@tonyciccone2462]

I do have tight calf’s and have been using the Thera gun the way you instructed in an earlier video and it seems to be working better I i’ve been resting it for almost a week now and it’s starting to feel better thank you for your videos you’re very informative

[@TreatMyAchilles]

You're welcome!

[@benwall8534]

Brilliant video - thank you!

[@TreatMyAchilles]

Very welcome!

[@question-question]

Had tight calves and painful tendons for years on and off. Been to remedial massage and nothing works. In fairness you may be right about how hard the masseuse was. Applying pressure until I was crying in pain was probably not correct.

[@TreatMyAchilles]

Perhaps you can find some more useful treatment advice in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnnFZHmJlN16Y6M

[@rgoliveira00]

Hydro-massage using jacuzzi tub helps with pain relief 😮‍💨

[@TheRealSean_O]

I have tight calves which feels like it’s pulling up on my ankle area causing a sharp pain on the side to shoot up straight into the calf muscle. I haven’t really found an area on the calf to use the massage gun without causing pain the next day. At the moment I’m unable to run, jump, or even tippy toe without feeling sharp pain. The doctor said I do have Achilles tendinitis and to do standing calf raises but that really irritates the tendon.

[@jirikadlec1058]

Is a tight feeling in the calf always a sign of injury? Or can it be something normal after a harder workout that will go away if you get enough regeneration and sleep?

[@TreatMyAchilles]

Spot on - it is absolutely normal to have tight calves after exercise. What I'm talking about here is the tightness that is associated with injury.

[@roy6419]

Would overactive calf muscles (from overuse during running or walking) causes Achilles Tendonitis? This could then cause tight calf muscles

[@TreatMyAchilles]

If you’ve overused your calf muscles to the point where they are sore and overactive, then it is likely you’ve also been overusing your Achilles tendon, because they work as a unit. So, it is more likely that overload caused the tendon pain.

[@roy6419]

@@TreatMyAchilles thanks for the reply and info!

[@Brenda-ue6mv]

@@TreatMyAchilles how can I treat achilles tendinopathy? I have had it for 3 months. I noticed calves are tight along with ankle pain. I've been going to PT, a Chiropractor and now waiting for customized orthotics. Today I did foam rolling and boy that made a difference compared to all the other things I have tried.

[@youtube_username_]

This is very interesting. I had the idea in my head that the reason running hurts my achilles tendons is that the tendons get too short. I thought they shortened either from my tight calves pulling them up (when I start into an exercise program) or because I spend far too much time entirely sedentary (not running ever and maybe even very little walking) -- I'm spending all day with my feet up on an ottoman and my toes pointed. I thought that was shortening my achilles tendon in the same way that I think people who are paralyzed or in comas have their tendons shorten over the years. So I had the idea that if I could stretch my tendons very long, then I wouldn't be injury prone and my tendons would never complain. Is this way of thinking full of misconceptions?

[@guld3n]

I think you're right Rebecca. I've had pain at the insertion of the Achilles on and off since 2012. After my long holiday in August this year it seemed to get better, and I think the reason was that I was on my feet the whole day. Normally I just sit at the computer for work. Since then I used my height adjustable desk and stand rather than sit at the computer. Seems to be working so far, running every other day and my pain is slowly going down. Not sure if this is in itself enough, but definitely sitting the whole day is making it worse due to tight hamstrings and the whole body in general. This is also in line with what I've noticed in the past. The more sedentary I am, the worse the pain becomes.

[@TheSecretBuster]

​@@guld3n Hi esso, I think you may have a point. I have been working from home and mainly sedentary for the past 9 months, and have been feeling Achilles and hamstring tightness in my lower leg. Could you elaborate more on it? What worked, what didn't, how are you feeling now?

[@CSan333]

That is my thinking as well. That it shortens because of sedentary lifestyle or wearing high heels, as it shortens that area.

[@MrCox2121]

I am recovering from surgery for an insertional rupture. Both calves are tight. Could it be from all the calves raises I am doing, 80 each leg per day?

[@TreatMyAchilles]

Yes - it sounds quite excessive to do 80 calf raises every day. Your body needs recovery days. It is similar to any other sports or training - just like you wouldn't train your arms or legs in the gym every single day - exercises for rehab is the same - you need to take days off to allow the body to repair after the exercises.

[@louiserobinson7587]

Hi! I've been struggling with what I had thought was a knot in my Achilles. I referred myself to a podiatrist but they were fully booked so was seen by a massage therapist who performed deep tissue massage on me. She said I had very tight calves and burrowed deep in which caused bruising for weeks after, she worked on releasing the muscle under my foot in the hope it loosens up my Achilles. I must say apart from being really sore, nothing has changed. I have booked back in with the actual podiatrist now and have bookmarked this video to show him. Some days it's fine, others it's stiff and sore. I need to exercise so I have been swimming, as weight = more pressure on the ankle! It's a hard one. Thanks for the video. Great advice and explanation.

[@TreatMyAchilles]

Thanks, and good luck with the recovery!

[@kyalking1313]

How long can it take to heal? I’ve been unable to do much for almost 2 year?

[@TreatMyAchilles]

It should have recovered by now if you have been following the correct exercise-based treatment plan. This is not a condition that just heals by itself. You have to restore the tendon’s strength through following a carefully graded strength training plan that starts at low intensity and slowly increases. It usually takes between 4 and 12 months to recover when you’re following a plan that is customized for you. This is also something that our team of physios can help you with via video call. You can read more about how the online consultations work here: www.treatmyachilles.com/

[@andrewslads]

To be honest man I had the same issue 2 years tenderness . The only way I got rid of it was to load the bastard in the gym . You’ll get more pain initially but you’ll soon notice the pain doesn’t progress with activity and slowly it gets better . You need to initiate for the body to build muscle and allign and strengthen tendons . Some physios will disagree with me , but the head of endurance of U.K. athletics who was a physio just told me to load it like mad in the gym . I would also say no amount of eccentric exercises really helped . They helped but seemed like a slow way to rehabilitate . Trust me . Load load load and also stretch those calves . Increase range of motion and strength training is the key

[@quincysutton9136]

Sadly back again lol I think my shoes aren’t helping my cause. But this time is way more mild & I think I know thr issue …. Basketball

[@p.k9012]

Achilles tendon problem Running use shooes name tell me

[@mattk4758]

great video

[@ClorisKylie]

Foam rolling really helps. Thank you, Maryke!