VaB
Billy Hamilton status
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1647
Loc: Virginia Beach, VA
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I have been having some issues with recurrent calf strains in both legs.
Now my right is acting up. I reinjured it on a run in early april, gave it some rest, tried to run again and made it about a block. I'm also nursing an achilles tendonitis in that leg which has been going on a few 4-5 weeks and is not preventing exercise but I note some pain in the am upon standing and when stetching.
I've been resting my legs from running, doing exercise that doesn't hurt- like bike or surf but want to get back. i've been using "the stick" to break down the scar tissue and stretching and its working and I'm feeling better. When it used to hurt to walk it does not. the "knot" is much smaller.
The question is- whats the best plan for back to running? I'm really not looking forward to walk-run-walk combos but that may be best.
Any thoughts?
Edited by VaB (04/26/12 08:09 AM)
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SurfDoc
Billy Hamilton status
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 1728
Loc: Huntington Beach
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Tough call VaB. It might be repetitive strain soft tissue injury. You might need a longer rest period. You could also try some whirlpool treatments and see if the inflammation resolves faster. Then do a very slow and methodical return to running. 10 minute walks for a week or two. Then longer and faster, then small short easy runs. It might be a couple months until you get back up to speed.
--------------------
Peace,
Surf Doc
Be safe, surf smart, know your limits! Check this: www.happyshark.com
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squidley
Gerry Lopez status
Reged: 03/05/09
Posts: 1165
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I keep telling you guys, don't put your toes on the bike pedals. Ever. Insteps only.
"But squidley, that's a tiny little thing. That COULDN'T be the cause."
WRONG.
Stop it. Don't do it again. Walk it out for about 3 weeks. It will go away and never return. You'll
say "Thank goodness that cleared up on its own. That squidley was sure an idiot, though."
Fine, as long as you stop putting your toes on the bike pedals.
..
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squidley
Gerry Lopez status
Reged: 03/05/09
Posts: 1165
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Here's the long technical version.....
This all started with the argument over seat height. The "low seat" guys tend to get bad knees
(meniscus strain). The "high seat" guys save their knees, and get more up-stroke spin. But the
"high seat" guys also get more crotch pain, calf pain and achilles pain.
In somebody's bike theory book it seemed like the knee should be almost straight at the
pedal-down position. That may be true in theory, but subliminally most "high seat" guys don't
like that position. They pedal with their toes, and bend their knees anyway.
Obviously what's needed is a compromise .....a seat height that's low enough not to hurt your
achilles and calves, but high enough not to hurt your knees. If you can't find that compromise,
then your crank arms are probably too long. Most bikes come with 170-175 mm crank arms.
Short legged people need shorter crank arms.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/parts.html
I've been through this. People don't just get calf and achilles cramps. Improper bike pedal use
is the prime suspect.
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VaB
Billy Hamilton status
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1647
Loc: Virginia Beach, VA
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surfdoc- thanks for the advice. doing the "home" remedy now. aka- don't want to pay for PT so I'm trying to do it all myself. biking is fine, surfing is fine, did 3x2 min intervals of jump rope and went well. I'm going to try to advance slowly. I miss the treadmill. Quit the gym and when this used to happen I would go back slow and at the first sign of a strain I would get off. Now I run and find myself far from home when pain hits....
Squid- I wear bike shoes with clip in pedals. Seat height should be good as biking remains painless. thanks for info though.
surfdoc- can you believe it? my erbb "ness" started as a 3rd year med student with a perf'd TM after smacking the water and vbsurfer consulted you. 8 years later.....
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Autoprax
Michael Peterson status
Reged: 01/24/11
Posts: 3121
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Are you doing soft tissue work?
Hammer those things.
http://www.mobilitywod.com/?s=calves
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squidley
Gerry Lopez status
Reged: 03/05/09
Posts: 1165
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.
Then readjust your clips. or buy new clips/shoes which clip below your insteps. The calf/achilles
strain doesn't cause pain during pedaling. It causes pain after pedaling.
You're relying on "experts". You assume the bike experts did right by you. They never met you, and
don't know about your trouble. You don't need a lifelong treatment regime. You need to figure this out.
The same advocates of high-seat riding also make "toe clips" which some of us can't take.
What's your inseam, and how long are your crank arms? Do your knees bend at full crank extension?
Do you have to squirm on the seat to make them bend? Do your upper thighs rise to horizontal on
the up side? Higher? Lower?
Trust me. You have not figured this out. This problem follows cycling everywhere.
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super_aloha
Michael Peterson status
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 2288
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Quote:
Any thoughts?
stop fvcking running. what are u running from?
  
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surfflexx
Nep status
Reged: 01/28/04
Posts: 624
Loc: usa
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I’m certainly no physical therapist but do have years of experience trying to keep both athletes and the average “Joe” exercising. You are doing all the right things, stretching and using the stick to hit the knot. There is an obvious issue with your lower and posterior portion of both legs. A couple of things you may want to check are your ankle mobility, flexibility of your hamstrings and strength or muscle activation of your glutes. Check the whole posterior chain from your ankle to your butt. Then also check for tightness of your hip flexors. Tight hip flexor= weak glutes=tight hamstrings=tight calves. I’d stay away from running until you figure it out. What's wrong with walk-run-walk? Hec I do triathlons and I don’t run them I speed walk and I still beat a whole lot of people. Get healthy, train smart! Cowabunga!
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Autoprax
Michael Peterson status
Reged: 01/24/11
Posts: 3121
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Quote:
Quote:
Any thoughts?
stop fvcking running. what are u running from?
My shadow.
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VaB
Billy Hamilton status
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1647
Loc: Virginia Beach, VA
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Quote:
stop fvcking running. what are u running from?
Stress
CAD
Hypertension
Obesity.
Running makes me feel good. Sorry if you don't get that...but I do.
and surfflex- must be some problem I have ignore over the years. working on strength and flexibility and see if that helps.
Auto- working calfs with stick.
Edited by VaB (05/10/12 03:17 PM)
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super_aloha
Michael Peterson status
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 2288
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Quote:
Quote:
stop fvcking running. what are u running from?
Stress
CAD
Hypertension
Obesity.
Running makes me feel good. Sorry if you don't get that...but I do.
I've got some news for you. It's not making you feel good
anymore.
Try something else. BTW you don't need to exercise to avoid
obesity. If you NEED to exercise to avoid being obese, you
are eating the wrong foods.
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super_aloha
Michael Peterson status
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 2288
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Quote:
I keep telling you guys, don't put your toes on the bike pedals. Ever. Insteps only.
"But squidley, that's a tiny little thing. That COULDN'T be the cause."
WRONG.
Stop it. Don't do it again. Walk it out for about 3 weeks. It will go away and never return. You'll
say "Thank goodness that cleared up on its own. That squidley was sure an idiot, though."
Fine, as long as you stop putting your toes on the bike pedals.
..
WTF are you taking about? He's not cycling.
It's great that you guys are exercising but maybe you
should be working on your brain instead?
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VaB
Billy Hamilton status
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1647
Loc: Virginia Beach, VA
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Quote:
I've got some news for you. It's not making you feel good
anymore.
Try something else. BTW you don't need to exercise to avoid
obesity. If you NEED to exercise to avoid being obese, you
are eating the wrong foods.
touche!! well done.
I'm on board with diet. i eat very well. mostly fruits veggies, fish, chicken, little red meat, organic when possible.
Brain work is two fold S-A, the endorphin release of exercise, and increasing your intelligence. Body needs exercise, brain needs exercise. use it or loose it.
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SurfDoc
Billy Hamilton status
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 1728
Loc: Huntington Beach
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Hey SuperAloha,
The new Playboy Playmate of the Month is from your town. Looks like she's been on a healthy diet, too.  
--------------------
Peace,
Surf Doc
Be safe, surf smart, know your limits! Check this: www.happyshark.com
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