Achilles tendonitis?

  • Thread starter Thread starter taximom
  • Start date Start date

DON'T LURK... Join The Discussion!

Members see FEWER ads

ChalkBucket may earn a commission through product links on the site.
T

taximom

Hi everyone!

I was back to the sports DR. with Corky earlier this week. Last year in May she was diagnosed with Sever's. We did physio for a few months things seemed to get better, ordered Tuli's cheetahs and even tried the Oscon.

In December things started acting up again and she was in more pain. Started physio again and did physio for 5 months. Physiotherapists recommended massage therapy so we also started that.

It seemed like Corky's pain had moved to a different spot so we went back to the Sports Clinic. The Dr. believes now that she has Achilles Tendonitis. He has prescribed her Naproxen to help get the inflammation down. He is saying we are doing all the right things for her treatment. He would however like to see do cross training one day a week instead of floor and vault. He suggests swimming or cycling.

I'm looking for info specific to gymnastics and others experiences with what works. I've done a bit of reading and from what I can tell she is in the muscular group that needs to keep her muscles stretched out. She is quite flexible however and the typical stretches don't give her a feeling of being stretched. Especially her feet. Any suggestions?

Thanks for your patience in reading this, I know it's a long winded one.
 
Bigger Bog had this when she had severs, the bike riding seemed to help quite a bit, she used a stationary bike for 15 minutes day. This was the warm up before the stretches, basically standing flexion of the foot. She was on rest from tumbling, vaulting and running. When the pain had past she began the strengthening which were squats off a step and calf raises off a step, first with no weight and two legs, gradually moving up to single leg with weights.

Look at this link if she is not feeling the stretch from typical stretches. Link Removed

The hardest thing was all the time it took. At least 45 minutes a day, plus massage and once weekly ultrasound treatment. So glad it has gone now! It was at it's worst at the peak of her growth spurt.
 
My ds is suffering through a really bad bout of Severs right now. My dd had this too. The only things we ever are told is rest, ice, stretch and ibuprofin. I'd love to hear any other ideas that work. Ds is hobbling through his days. :(
 
Bog: I'm glad to hear Bigger Bog is better now! It sure does feel like these injuries go on for so long. Thanks for the link. :) I'm looking at a brace I found online called the Aircast Airheel. Here is the link Do you think it would be more helpful than the cheetahs?

Shop Aircast - AirHeel Wrap ShopAircast.com
 
Looks very good, probably wouldn't slip as much as the cheetahs. We found we had to tape them when she got a bit sweaty or she'd slide right out! The price is pretty good too, we found the cheetahs didn't last to long and boy they smelt pretty bad after a few weeks in the gym!

I know this injury seems to drag on forever, it is very tough on them to deal with this as they begin to feel that it's only them.
 
Last Congress, one National coach had a funny comment on Sever's and Osgood-Schlaters. AKA I don't know what's wrong with your ankle...or knee. I and our HC thought it was pretty funny.

In anycase, time off reactive tumbling...

and one interesting remedy I have heard is LOTS and LOTS of toe/heel raises. 150 feet forward, turned out, turned in. Same with ankle circles.

Basically a lot of low intensity, high rep mobility work.

There are also a few ankle exercises that can be done with a partner adding resistance or you can do them with theraband.
 
Yup BalirBob, oldest ended up doing 120 on each leg with a weighted back pack when she was right at the end of te healing cycle. I read a great article about rehab with weights, but I seem to have lost it!
 
Blair Bob: Thanks for the suggestions I know they already do toe/heel raises as part of their warm-up but I'm not sure on how many reps. There is also the possibility that my gymmie would rush through them to get warm-up done quicker. :rolleyes:

Bog: The cheetahs sure did stink after wearing them! I would soak them overnight in Tide but the odour never really went away. Corky finds that they slide as well so she has backed off from wearing them. She tapes her arches now and has tried a tape job for her Achilles this week.
 
I have Achilles tendonitis...I was diagnosed with it around February. Because it was right in the middle of competition season, I was constantly stretching my Achilles tendons. Stretching, icing, resting, and riding bikes was what really helped me. I was able to compete the whole season without a problem. As of right now, it doesn't hurt at all. There are some days that when I land in the pit, it will still hurt, but thats about it :)
 

DON'T LURK... Join The Discussion!

Members see FEWER ads

College Gym News

Back