Are you starting to feel soreness in the back of your ankle with running? Does it feel stiff when you wake up in the morning or at the start of your run? Are you wondering, why does my achilles tendon hurt when I run?
In this episode I cover all of the myths and provide you with the latest research on what Achilles Tendonitis is and how you don’t need to stop running to overcome this very common running injury!
This is Part 1 of this topic where I will go over exactly what Achilles Tendonitis is. Next week in Part 2, I will discuss the treatment and prevention of this injury!
Listen to the Podcast Episode during your next run!
This week I answer the most common questions about this condition including :
Let’s get into it with the blog!
Achilles Tendonitis is a very common condition among runners where they start to experience some pain in the tendon that runs along the back of the leg and into the ankle. Remember that “-itis” means inflammation, so there’s inflammation occurring in this tendon!
This is the largest tendon in the body. It runs from the bottom of your calf muscle, all the way to your heel bone where it inserts! When you walk, run, climb stairs, and stand on your tip toes, you’re using this tendon! The Achilles Tendon is very strong and can withstand great stresses. However, the tendon can also be prone to overuse and degeneration issues which leads to this pathology of Achilles Tendonitis.
The tendon can become irritated and inflamed which then causes pain. An individual with Achilles Tendonitis may notice pain in the mid-portion of the tendon, about 2 inches above the heel bone or there may be pain where the tendon inserts at the heel bone.
Achilles Tendonitis occurs from repetitive stress to the tendon. As stated previously, the Achilles Tendon can handle a lot of stress – but when too much is done too soon, or too much load is placed on the tendon over and over, it can become irritated.
Other risk factors that may lead to Achilles Tendonitis include:
There are MANY different symptoms associated with Achilles Tendonitis. Some of the most common symptoms include:
Hearing or feeling a “POP” in this area is a much more significant injury. The pop, or feeling of being shot in the back of the heel, is an Achilles Tendon Rupture (or torn Achilles). See your doctor immediately if you think you may have torn your tendon.
A medical provider will look for the following signs during an exam to determine if an individual has Achilles Tendonitis…
In next weeks episode we will discuss treatment and prevention of this pathology… stay tuned and subscribe to our YouTube Channel and Podcast so you can stay in the loop!!
In the video version of this episode, I also mentioned our brand new high touch coaching program…
SPARK Back Coaching Program. To learn more about this program click this link to jump on a 30 min strategy phone call: https://calendly.com/duanescotticoaching/30-minute-strategy-session
This episode, our 60th episode (can you believe it?!) is sponsored by UCAN energy! UCAN nutrition is powered by superstarch and it delivers that steady long lasting energy without the spike and then the crash.
Since you are part of our healthy runner community, you will get 15% off all of your orders at ucan.co. Just use the code HEALTHYRUNNER during checkout when placing your order. Go ahead and give ucan a try, trust me…you won’t regret it
Thank you (running friends) for taking the time to read and I hope you enjoy the podcast episode!
Warmest regards,
– Duane
Duane Scotti, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS
⚡️ SPARK Physical Therapy and the Healthy Runner Podcast Helping Active Adults Be Able To Run Without Aches and Pains So You Can Feel Good About Yourself Again…
[Even If You Don’t Think You Are A Runner]
If you are a runner and frustrated with your nagging aches and pains and have been told to stop running, we can help you.
Are you ready to run a half marathon? Wondering if you are prepared to go the distance? Are you up for the challenge? Running a half marathon is no easy task. It requires commitment, dedication, and a whole lot of training. But the feeling of crossing that finish line is absolutely incredible! So, are you… View ArticleRead More
What Happens When You Train For 13.1? Do You Have A 2020 Goal To Run A Half Marathon? 13.1 is within reach and we have the race for you! The Cheshire Half Marathon on April 26th! VERY EXCITED TO SHARE THIS NEWS… ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ More than excited to be teaming up with Clay Tebbetts in… View ArticleRead More
This is going to be a very different blog post than I have ever done before…for those that don’t know on January 26, 2021 my mom lost her 2 week battle with COVID. I am going to be talking about a comeback story and share with you my story on how my mom is… View ArticleRead More
You can teach an old dog new tricks!!! I have never considered myself a runner and I knew I needed to be smart about it because I am no spring chicken. Spark preached getting strong and healthy to be injury free and they practice what they preach. I am soooo glad I made the investment in me! I finished my half marathon last weekend and couldn’t be any happier! The program fed me all the steps I needed to essentially learn how to run long distance, build strength, nutrition help, a forum of other runners and probably most important was the 1:1 coaching. I had no idea how to tackle training for a 1/2 marathon and this program broke all of it down, had it individualized for me and we tweaked as we went to make sure I was staying healthy and strong. I had so many questions the week prior to my race and Coach Cat was always there for me and answering all the questions and issues I had-and believe me there were a lot! The biggest benefit I think I got was the strength. I am strong and fit. But most important was what I gained emotionally. I built confidence and strength I didn’t know I had, even at my age. Honestly could not have done this without Spark Healthy Runners!
My Healthy Runner journey started after I had battled bilateral achilles pain for a few months and was frustrated how it affected my running. As soon as I talked to Duane I knew I had made the right decision. His positivity, enthusiasm and genuine care are infectious. The training plan that was tailored to me included specific exercises to rehab my injury and I was so excited that I didn’t have to stop running. It took patience to only run slow for a few weeks but I trusted the process and it got me me to where I am now: running pain free. We made adjustments to the plan throughout whenever needed having someone in your corner that is always there with guidance and support throughout the process was invaluable.
I just ran my second half marathon, both with Duane’s coaching, and PR’d by over 9 minutes! I got all choked up in the last mile when I realized that I felt strong and could still kick it up a notch.
I’m so thankful for the Healthy Runner program, community and the entire coaching team for all the support!
Wanting to run more consistently, and to increase my long run distance and total weekly mileage, I was concerned about hip pain due to hip alignment issues. This is an issue I had when I trained for my first half marathon several years ago. Having listened to the Healthy Runner podcast for the past couple years, I knew Duane Scotti could help. I signed up for the four-month strength and running training program and am extremely happy with the results.
The program Duane and Coach Whitney developed for me was exactly what I needed. It was tailored to my needs and to my target race. Coach Whitney was very helpful, and with the biweekly coaching calls, we were able to fine tune the program based off my performance and feedback.
At the end of the program, I completed a 10K trail race feeling strong and pain free.
I highly recommend Duane Scotti and the Healthy Runner training programs.