Achilles tendon issues

I was wondering if anyone might be able to offer some guidance regarding stretching protocols...

1) Is there any way to find a truly comprehensive guide online that breaks down stretching routines with clear illustrations—specifically focusing on the Achilles tendon, though I suppose the rest of the body matters too?

2) Does it actually make a measurable difference whether one stretches before or after a session of running?

3) Has anyone else here dealt with that nagging, uncomfortable ache in the Achilles right at the start of a run, only to have it settle down once you get moving, only for the pain to resurface the moment you stop briefly and try to pick up the pace again?

It is entirely plausible that this has all been covered extensively in the main 'Running' thread... but honestly, that thread is miles long and frankly exhausting to navigate...😉

Much appreciated 🙂

I thought maybe this might be helpful for you, I guess.

What about my Achilles?
Am I touching yours? No, I am not.
My Achilles is, thanks for asking, doing just fine without any stretching whatsoever.😁

Funny. Not.

You can definitely find descriptions like that online, though I don't have the time to go hunting for them right now, but they're out there somewhere.

Based on what you're describing, those three symptoms sound like classic overtraining syndrome—specifically Achilles tendonitis. You really shouldn't mess around with this. I’d suggest tracking down a copy of *Overuse Syndromes*; it goes into a ton of detail about stuff like this. It’s honestly such a helpful read for anyone who stays active...

Or just do a quick search online.

Bottom line: dial back the intensity for a few days, use some ice if it starts hurting, and make sure you're stretching constantly. Don't let this turn into something more serious; it's still in the early stages, so you should be able to get it sorted out pretty quickly if you're careful...

Casey Palmer5 said:You can certainly find descriptions like that online, though I don't have the time to hunt them down right now, but they exist...

What you’re describing under point three sounds exactly like the symptoms of overtraining syndrome, specifically Achilles tendonitis. You really shouldn't take chances with this sort of thing, so I would suggest tracking down a copy of a book like *Overtraining Syndromes*—it goes into exhaustive detail regarding these issues. It's quite a vital read for anyone serious about athletics...

Or just search the web.

In any case, dial back the activity for a few days, use ice if the pain flares up, and focus heavily on stretching. Don't let this escalate into something more severe; this is likely just the beginning, and it should be manageable if caught early...

You were thinking of this:
M. Cave: Overtraining Syndromes, Globe, Washington, D.C. 1992.
I suppose I'll try to track it down, though finding it online might prove difficult...

I intend to reduce my running frequency and perhaps increase the heel drop in my shoes by about half an inch...
The blog mentioned above outlines some useful exercises for strengthening the Achilles, so I'll give those a shot... as well as looking into some New Balance sneakers.

I mean, why even bother with New Balance when Asics is clearly 🙏

A friend over in the States actually pointed me toward New Balance, which seems like a logical choice given the circumstances... 🙂

That said, how does Asics stack up when you're looking at brands like Adidas or Nike?
I've heard whispers that Asics really doubles down on their focus regarding running shoes, though I suppose one can never be entirely certain about these things...

Picking out running shoes is honestly pretty tricky because, at the end of the day, only YOU can actually say if they work for you. You're the one who knows if "these feel great" or if "these don't help my pronation, so now my knees and shins hurt," which is just not okay since I really want to feel as comfortable as possible when I'm out there. My own experience has been kind of a roller coaster: my first pair of New Balance felt way too soft for the amount of miles I was putting in on the pavement, so my feet really took a beating, and I even ended up losing toenails on some hills 😬 Eventually, I switched to a firmer pair of New Balance, and I have to admit I hated them for the first month because they felt totally stiff, but once my whole body adjusted, they were a solid 5 out of 5—super durable, water-resistant, and just great. That was the 1022 model. 👍 After that, I tried some Reebok Road plus. They were soft yet firm, which was nice, but they wore down pretty quickly. Then I moved on to Asics, starting with the 1090. Now those are real running shoes. They’re soft, comfortable, and I must have clocked hundreds of miles in them before they finally started falling apart. I actually went shopping for my current pair with my boyfriend—funny story—and he finally realized that I've been buying shoes that are way too small this whole time. I guess when you're buying running shoes, you really should get at least half a size larger, maybe even a full size, because your feet tend to swell and expand as you get through a workout. Right now, I'm wearing these light blue Asics, 😍, and they are just phenomenal to me. Of course, naturally, I can't find them anywhere else in town anymore. Next time, I think I'll just buy two pairs right away. 😁

Greetings, I have a question regarding some discomfort in my Achilles tendon.
Last week, I began noticing a sensation of pain in my tendon—it was quite subtle, almost negligible, yet it lingered consistently throughout the entire week. Today, however, during a moment of more vigorous movement, the intensity of the pain sharpened significantly. I managed to push through and finish my session, though I had to proceed with extreme caution, taking a five-minute break and attempting some light stretching to manage the discomfort.
I am curious to know if it is permissible to engage in other forms of exercise, such as swimming or cycling, while dealing with this Achilles issue, or if the fact that the pain has resurfaced with greater intensity means that complete rest is absolutely mandatory.

Back in January, I managed to tear my Achilles tendon during a soccer match. It was a full rupture, so I had to go under the knife. After spending 50 days stuck in a cast followed by five days of just lying around doing nothing, I finally started physical therapy. Honestly, everything feels like it's moving at a snail's pace. Does anyone know if there are any decent resources online for recovering from this kind of injury—maybe something with actual photos of the exercises? 🙏

I'm going to hijack this thread for a quick question.
So, I've been dealing with Achilles issues for years now. I used to be a professional athlete, and back then, I just pushed through the pain without saying a word—not even to my coach. Looking back, I realize how much I messed things up. In my sport, pain was basically treated as a normal part of the job.
When I finally saw a doctor, they suggested getting a steroid injection and taking some time off from training. I wasn't interested in the shot, and honestly, I'm not even sure how healthy that really is. 🤷
The real issue is that I haven't competed professionally in two years, yet my Achilles still flares up. It’s not as intense as it used to be, but it definitely aches from time to time. I've tried everything: various creams, ointments, silicone heel cups...
I know for a fact that if I tried running—assuming I was even in shape—the pain would come right back.
Is there anything else that might help? Besides the creams and inserts? How did you all deal with this? Any advice is welcome. 🙂

I bet Casey Palmer5 is gonna roll up out of nowhere any second now... she’s definitely the expert on this stuff.

Hey, Casey Palmer5, where you at? 🙂

Anyone there? 😢

Jonathan Cox4 said:Anyone there? 😢

What’s the specific cause behind your Achilles pain? Are we talking overexertion, a direct impact, or some kind of physical trauma?

Since Casey Palmer5 isn't around to weigh in yet, I'll try to offer some perspective...
It sounds like you might be dealing with lingering issues from that previous bout of acute Achilles tendonitis or peritendinitis. It could be a bit of residual inflammation if the initial treatment wasn't quite thorough enough, or perhaps just a lasting consequence despite your best efforts. I doubt we're looking at a chronic case severe enough to require orthopedic surgery, but then again, it doesn't necessarily have to be tendonitis... Did you ever experience a full rupture? You didn't mention one, but that's a crucial detail to know. If you've already seen a doctor, you likely have a formal report; please share the diagnosis with us when you can.

Could we be looking at a muscle strain or perhaps even a partial tear? Did you notice any swelling or a palpable lump along the tendon line—maybe some localized hematoma?

Look, I don't understand half of what you guys are saying 😬 with all these technical terms... 🤔
I didn't take a photo of it. I just went to my primary care physician, and everything they said was strictly about that blockage. I guess you can imagine how helpful that was, right?
I didn't bother asking the physical therapist anything, since they could barely even manage to treat my groin issues.
It used to hurt every single morning until I finally "warmed up" a bit, and once I started running or training... sometimes it would even hurt just from walking.
What I want to know is why it still hurts whenever I go for a few days of running in a row? I haven't even been an athlete for two years now.
And someone actually asked me why it hurts. Well, it hurts because I did competitive sports for twelve years. And during basically every single workout, I was performing on my toes. I assume that's the cause?

My doctor just recommended I undergo an Achilles tendon cleaning procedure. Does anyone actually know what that entails? Has anyone here gone through it personally? And more importantly—how long am I looking at for the recovery process?