Certain activities and habits could put you more at risk for an Achilles tendon tear than others. By working with a coach, a trainer, or a physical therapist, you can engage in techniques that improve your form and in turn reduce the risk of an injury to the tendon. In the meantime, persons suffering from such an injury or attempting to ward off the threat before it begins would do well to check out the tips and insights on hand from a new report.
First, it’s important to realize those techniques that actually make an athlete more susceptible to an Achilles tendon injury. Pay close attention to how you run. Do you tend to come down at the bottom of your feet (in the heel region) or are you more inclined to bring the toe area down first? If the latter, you could be increasing the strain that accumulates in your tendon. The quicker you run, the more likely it is for the tendon to face this type of stress as well.
Your stride and form also have a role to play. The tighter your hip flexors are, the more inclined you would be to push off of the ground at an inopportune moment, further stressing the tendon. If you favor one leg over the other, your tendons could be endangered by the increased stress created by that imbalance. As you age, the likelihood of a tendon injury is also going to increase.
You can work with a trainer or a physical therapist to dramatically improve the way you run as a whole, but if you suffer from an injury right now, you likely want to know how you can get better. Although rest is going to be important, the Achilles tendon is somewhat unique in that rest alone isn’t guaranteed to get you back to 100%. As the author notes at the above link, simply laying off the tendon is going to cause it to stiffen, leaving you more susceptible to injury down the line.
Therefore, you might want to consider having a light stretching regimen in place during your rest period. By stretching the area in a way that doesn’t further contribute to injury but that does allow for a certain degree of mobility, you’ll be kept safe in the long run. But because of the fragile nature of the area, these types of stretches should be conducted with the help of a trainer or sports medicine specialist who can ensure the injury does not become exacerbated.
However, if the pain is so severe that you’re finding it hard to even walk, consulting with a doctor is the best course of action. If you’ve experienced a full tear, stretching simply isn’t good enough.