travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
tips and suggestions to get this damaged and scar-tissue-laced piece of rope back to full functionality?
Damn....shut it down. Go see a doctor. Resist the urge to keep playing.tips and suggestions to get this damaged and scar-tissue-laced piece of rope back to full functionality?
That’s a slippery slope. The shut-down approach works great when you’re younger. But once you hit a certain age, the atrophy effects outweigh the gains.Damn....shut it down. Go see a doctor. Resist the urge to keep playing.
Oh I no, I am Mr. Rigor Mortis the day after a match. I am fully committed to compression boots and a Theragun.That’s a slippery slope. The shut-down approach works great when you’re younger. But once you hit a certain age, the atrophy effects outweigh the gains.
That said, it was probably for the best that the only tennis courts in cannon beach, oregon over Memorial Day weekend were occupied by hordes of PB riffraff.
No it doesn’tSorry you are going through this. It's been 8-9 months for me.
If you are able to tolerate it, I would see a physical therapist, and ask them to use a tendon scraper on you. It kind of looks like an ice scraper that people use for their cars, etc. The PT specialist will scrape (hard) on your achilles tendons, heels, and bottoms of feet. Not fun, but it helps get rid of the scar tissue.
No it doesn’t
No it doesn’t
Technically it does, but then it comes back.No it doesn’t
Novel stimulus that modulates the nervous system and can reduce pain in the short term. It does not remodel scar tissue in the slightest. There is no high quality evidence to suggest thatWhat does it do?
yeah man I encounter it on a daily basis. I know what it isNot sure what you mean, but attached is a video of the procedure. It did help. The first time I got it done, I flinched so hard, I almost kicked my PT person in the face. LOL. The bottom of my feet were particularly sensitive.
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Watch: Scraping Tool for Tendonitis Treatment - All Cure
Watch how a scraping tool is used to decrease any tightness and inflammation for chronic Achilles tendonitis.www.allcurespineandsports.com
Novel stimulus that modulates the nervous system and can reduce pain in the short term. It does not remodel scar tissue in the slightest. There is no high quality evidence to suggest that
yeah man I encounter it on a daily basis. I know what it is
Perhaps a slow warmup, warmer weather and shorter duration when playing singles is the only way for you to keep playing (singles).My previous bout of Achilles tendinitis issues occurred 6 years ago, when I was in my late 40s.
It was initiated when I played a 4.5 league singles match, without that much singles tennis mileage built up on my legs. It was the rubber match for my league team, and it ended up being a brutal 2.5 hour physical battle of wills. Other guy went into full body cramp chasing a dropshot lob combo into the curtain on match point. He lost that battle, but I lost the war, sustaining mild overuse damage to my Achilles.
I kept trying to play twice a week, but each session seemed to make the injury zip higher up from my Achilles toward my calf. Resting it for a few weeks was ineffective. It always came back, until…
The next year, life sent me an interesting curveball, and I ended up stationed long-term for 8 months in a third world South American country for a work project.
This had rejuvenating powers on my Achilles injury. I was able to play 4x per week 55-minute paid sparring sessions versus teaching pros on the red clay, usually in warm to hot conditions, but in the shade.
The higher frequency of play, combined with shorter session length that didn’t trigger my inflammation cycle, magically healed me fully.
Problem resurfaced this last month after trying to ramp up to singles play following no-singles period.
I’m now hoping to figure out a way to recreate that magic healing schedule in the constraints of my regular northern life.
Best thing for Achilles tendinopathy is heavy slow resistance exerciseInteresting. I remember my PT saying there were different schools of thought on this, but I’ve never heard that one. Is there anything that works better? Full disclosure. Mine came back too. LOL. I‘m guilty of being impatient. Started playing tennis again too soon. Like @travlerajm, seeking solutions.
I tried some eccentric calf stretch reps today while warmed up, along with some stretching.Best thing for Achilles tendinopathy is heavy slow resistance exercise
It’s an option, but I’m going to try alternative approaches first.Amputate
I’ve noticed my entire kinetic chain along the back of both legs, from heel to calf to hammy to glut, has been tighter than usual lately due to more sitting and less running around.You could do aggressive depth jumps, and scare it into healing!
Probably best to just keep it under load by getting in plenty of walking every day and then doing slow heel raises and drops on something like a staircase. I'd also do bent leg calf raises to hit the other muscle insertions. Just keep it moving without reinjuring it while it heals. The movement will help get some circulation and lymph fluid moving to the tendon, which is slow to heal.
Eat plenty of quality protein and get good sleep if possible. I'd consider collagen supplements, but I don't know if they actually help if you're already eating a high protein diet. I'd suggest supplementing with vitamin C if you're not getting plenty of fruit and leafy vegetables. I'd also supplement hyaluronic acid.
Probably best to back off the competition while healing. Once it feels stronger, I'd start with low intensity impact, perhaps like jump rope and other sub-maximal hopping, to help stress and thicken the Achilles.
I’ve noticed my entire kinetic chain along the back of both legs, from heel to calf to hammy to glut, has been tighter than usual lately due to more sitting and less running around.
There's been no scientific data suggesting ingestion of collagen leads to actual production of functional cross-linked collagen at the site of injury...While it's torn, rest. After the tear heals, isometric and or eccentric work helps.
And collagen. Lots of collagen.
Technically, any animal protein has collagen.There's been no scientific data suggesting ingestion of collagen leads to actual production of functional cross-linked collagen at the site of injury...
It's just a marketing BS claim.
Technically, any animal protein has collagen.
I share you distrust in the effectiveness of collagen elixirs.O....k...? Yeah? And your point relative to my post is...?
ah i see, haha sorry, it didn't come through over written words. But yes, agreed!I share you distrust in the effectiveness of collagen elixirs.
There's been no scientific data suggesting ingestion of collagen leads to actual production of functional cross-linked collagen at the site of injury...
It's just a marketing BS claim.
I just read the article summary. It says that in one study, collagen supplements increased tendon stiffness. But you see, my problem is that my tendons are already too stiff!Here's something accessible for you to read
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There’s New Evidence That Collagen Might Help Your Tendons
A new study tests the idea that, with the right building blocks, connective tissue can repair itself after allwww.outsideonline.com
Don't forget to follow the links to the evidence.
I just read the article summary. It says that in one study, collagen supplements increased tendon stiffness. But you see, my problem is that my tendons are already too stiff!
Exactly. My k gets bigger every year.The k in Hooke's Law
Exactly. My k gets bigger every year.
Curious why you would deny that tendons stiffen with age?
Full disclosure: I have a PhD in collagen.
Now you have me confused. In the athletic training world, tendon stiffness is a sought after quality. Stiffer tendons return more energy, which is why athletes like sprinters do plyometric exercises designed to increase tendon stiffness.I just read the article summary. It says that in one study, collagen supplements increased tendon stiffness. But you see, my problem is that my tendons are already too stiff!
And another study of supplements showed increase in cross-sectional area, but no change in stiffness. But my problem is that my scarred tendon has bigger cross sectional area than my healthier one.
These data suggest I should avoid supplements.
Now you have me confused. In the athletic training world, tendon stiffness is a sought after quality. Stiffer tendons return more energy, which is why athletes like sprinters do plyometric exercises designed to increase tendon stiffness.
No.You're 100% correct.
Here is a paper that explains what’s really happening to your tendons.
Effect of Aging on Tendon Biology, Biomechanics and Implications for Treatment Approaches - PMC
Tendon aging is associated with an increasing prevalence of tendon injuries and/or chronic tendon diseases, such as tendinopathy, which affects approximately 25% of the adult population. Aged tendons are often characterized by a reduction in the ...www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The reference I posted says “increased stiffness … observed while aging”.The reference you posted says the same things I've been saying here.