Gastrocnemius, Soleus, & Achilles Tendon
Position: / Standing facing a wall or tree, separate your feet, elbows straight and hands on wall/tree.Motion: / Slowly bend the forward knee, keeping your back straight, bending your elbows and moving your body toward the wall/tree.
Purpose: / To stretch the Gastrocnemius, Soleus, and Achilles Tendon
Tips: / Be sure to keep the heel of the back leg touching the ground. Don't let it lift up! Keep your toes pointed straight.
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Principles of Stretching
1. All stretches should be held for 30 seconds and done twice to each extremity or side.
2. Alternate the stretches to allow for proper rest periods.
3. Never bounce while stretching.
4. Proper form is essential for effective stretching.
Physical Therapy Corner: Plantar Fasciitis
From the weekend warrior to the competitive athlete, the rising participation in physical activity has led to a wide array of overuse syndromes including plantar faciitis.Principles of Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the strong tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot and connects the heel to the base of the toes (see image). This common overuse injury is characterized by heel pain that is worse in the morning with the first few steps. Since it is difficult to rest the foot, this problem gradually worsens. With progression, pain may start interfering with activities of daily living.Potential Causes Include:
- Weak foot muscles
- Tight Achilles tendon
- Flat or high arches
- Poor shoe support
- Sudden increase in activity level
- Sudden increase in weight
- Decreasing pain
- Restoring flexibility to tight structures surrounding the arch and ankle
- Strengthening the muscles in and around the foot
- GRADUAL return to full activity
Your Role In The Treatment Process
Rest:Use pain as your guide. Initially, avoid prolonged walking, running or jumping.
Cold Therapy:
Ice can help decrease pain. For best results ice should be applied four times daily to the injured area. Ice massage for 5-7 minutes or ice pack for 15-20 minutes each application.
Medication:
Anti-inflammatory pain relievers available at the drug store can help decrease discomfort.
Shoes:
Use of appropriate footwear for daily activities and sports is very important. Improperly fitting shoes can cause plantar fasciitis. A running shoe with good support through the middle of the arch would be optimal. Experiment with your shoes noting any change in symptoms.
Taping:
Plantar fascia taping can also provide some relief of your symptoms. The tape will decrease your pain by distributing force away from the stressed plantar fascia. (See 'Taping for Plantar Fasciitis,' in our Trainers' Corner)
Orthotics:
Your doctor may suggest using a shoe insert or orthotic device to decrease the forces at the site of the injury. Over the counter heel pads or heel cups can provide force distribution and reduce the pull of a tight Achilles therefore decreasing your symptoms.
Stretching and Strengthening:
As soon as swelling and pain begin to subside it is important to start a proper stretching program. The stretching should be gentle and prolonged, using a slow, static stretch. Each stretch should be performed three times a day holding each stretch for one minute and repeating five times each session. Stretching exercises should include the gastroc,soleus and intrinsic muscles of the foot.
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Gastroc Stretch / Soleus Stretch / Intrinsic Stretch
Once muscle flexibility is attained, and you remain pain free, strengthening the involved muscles is your goal. An appropriate strengthening program will help prevent the reoccurrence of this condition. The following exercises performed three times per day for 30 times each session will help provide muscular support to a weakened plantar fascia.
- towel curls to strengthen intrinsic muscles of the foot
- calf raises (unilateral and bilateral)
Running: Preventing Overuse Injuries
What causes an overuse injury in a runner?
Overuse injury in a runner most often occurs because of a training error (running too far, too fast, too soon). With every mile that is run, the feet must absorb 110 tons of energy. Therefore, it is not surprising that up to 70% of runners develop injuriesevery year.
How can overuse injury be prevented?
You can decrease your risk of injury by following these recommendations:
- Do not increase running mileage by more than 10% per week.
- Do not run more than 45 miles per week. There is little evidence that running more than 45 miles per week improves your performance, but a great deal of evidence showsthat running more than 45 miles per week increases your risk for an overuse injury.
- Do not run on slanted or uneven surfaces. The best running surface is soft, flat terrain.
- Do not "run through pain." Pain is a sign that should not be ignored,because it indicates that something is wrong.
- If you do have pain when you run, place ice on the area and rest for 2 or 3 days. If the pain continues for 1 week, see your doctor.
- Follow hard training or running days with easy days.
- Change your running shoes every 500 miles. After this distance shoes lose their ability to absorb the shock of running.
What about orthotics to reduce the chance of injury?
Orthotics are inserts that are placed in shoes to correct bad alignment between the foot and the lower leg. You will probably need orthotics if the inside of your foot turns in, a problem called pronation. If you have bad alignment but no pain with running and you do not suffer from repeated injuries, you probably do not need orthotics. Many world-class athletes with bad alignment do not wear orthotics. Your doctor may suggest orthotics if you have bad alignment and become injured and do not get better with other measures, such as rest, ice application and cross training.
What exercises help prevent or treat injuries?
Before and after a run, perform specific stretching exercises. See the pictures below that show stretching exercises. These exercises may also be part of your recovery from an injury. Do not bounce with each exercise. Stretch until you feel tension but not pain.
If you do develop an injury, your doctor may suggest particular strengthening exercises. Every day you should do 3 sets of each exercise, with 10 repetitions in each set. For the exercises that involve straight-leg raises, you will want to add ankle weights as the exercises become easier for you. These exercises may also be done as part of your overall exercise program.
Stretching exercises
Hamstring stretch
Sit with your injured leg straight and your other leg bent. With your back straight and your head up, slowly lean forward at your waist. You should feel the stretch along the underside of your thigh. Hold the stretch for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat the stretch 6 to 8 times. This stretching exercise may be helpful for patellofemoral syndrome (pain under and around the kneecap), patellar tendinitis (inflammation
of thetendon that connects the patella and tibia)
and hamstring strain (overstretching or tearing of the
muscles on the back of the thigh).
Iliotibial band stretch
Sit with your injured leg bent and crossed over your straightened opposite leg. Twist at your waist away from your injured leg, and slowly pull your injured leg across your chest. You should feel the stretch along the side of your hip. Hold the stretch for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat the stretch 6 to 8 times. This stretching exercise may be helpful for iliotibial band syndrome (knee tenderness from irritation of the thigh's
iliotibial band)and adductor strain.
Groin stretch
Sit with your feet together, your back straight, your head up, and your elbows on the inside of your knees. Then slowly push down on the inside of your knees with your elbows. You should feel the stretch along the inside of your thighs. Hold the stretch for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat the stretch 6 to 8 times. This stretching exercise may be helpful for adductor strain (overstretching of the groin muscles).
Quadriceps stretch
Stand straight with your injured leg bent. Grasp the foot of your injured leg with your hand and slowly pull your heel to your buttocks. You should feel the stretch in the front of your thigh. Hold the stretch for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat the stretch 6 to 8 times. This stretching exercise may be helpful for patellofemoral syndrome, iliotibial band syndrome and patellar tendinitis.
Calf stretch
Stand with your hands against a wall and your injured leg behind your other leg. With your injured leg straight, your heel flat on the floor and your foot pointed straight ahead, lean slowly forward, bending the other leg. You should feel the stretch in the middle of your calf. Hold the stretch for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat the stretch 6 to 8 times. This stretching exercise may be helpful for Achilles tendinitis (inflammation of the Achilles tendon, the
large tendon at the back of the ankle), plantar fasciitis
(heel pain)and calcaneal apophysitis (inflammation
where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel,usually
in children).
Plantar fascia stretch
Stand straight with your hands against a wall and your injured leg slightly behind your other leg. Keeping your heels flat on the floor, slowly bend both knees. You should feel the stretch in the lower part of your leg. Hold the stretch for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat the stretch 6 to 8 times. This stretching exercise may be helpful for plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis and calcaneal apophysitis.
Strengthening exercises
Straight-leg raise
Lie down with your upper body supported on your elbows. Tighten the top of the thigh muscle of your injured leg. Raise your leg on a count of 4, hold for a 2 count, and then lower the leg on a 4 count. Relax your thigh muscles. Then tighten the thigh and repeat. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions each day. Once your leg gains strength, do the exercise with weights on your ankle. This strengthening exercise may be particularly helpful for patellofemoral syndrome or patellar tendinitis.
Straight-leg raise
Lie on your unaffected side, tighten the thigh muscle of your injured leg, and then slowly raise the leg off the floor. Hold the leg up for a 2 count, and lower it on a 4 count. Relax your muscles. Then tighten the thigh and repeat. Do three sets of 10 repetitions each day. Once your leg gains strength, do the exercise with weights on your ankle. This strengthening exercise may be helpful for iliotibial band syndrome.
Straight-leg raise
Lie on your affected side with the unaffected leg crossed over the knee of your injured leg. Tighten your thigh muscles and raise the injured leg about 6 to 8 inches off the floor. Hold for 2 seconds, and then slowly lower your leg. Relax the muscles. Then tighten the thigh and repeat. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions each day. Once your leg gains strength, do the exercise with weights on your ankle. This strengthening exercise may be helpful for adductor strain.
Standing wall slide
Stand with your back against the wall and your feet 6 to 8 inches away from the wall. Slowly lower your back and hips about one-third of the way down the wall. Hold the position for about 10 seconds or until you feel that the tops of your thigh muscles are becoming tired. Straighten and repeat. Perform 10 repetitions each day. This strengthening exercise may be helpful for patellofemoral syndrome or patellar tendinitis.
Straight-leg raise
Lie on your stomach. Tighten your thigh muscles and slowly raise your injured leg off the floor on a 4 count. Hold the leg up for a 2 count, and then lower the leg on a 4 count. Relax your thigh muscles. Tighten the thigh and repeat. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions each day. Once your leg gains strength, do the exercise with weights on your ankle. This strengthening exercise may be helpful for hamstring strain.
Lateral step-ups
Stand with your injured leg on a stair or platform that is 4 to 6 inches high. Slowly lower the other leg, striking the heel on the floor. Straighten the knee of the injured leg, allowing the foot of the other leg to raise off the floor. Repeat. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions each day. This strengthening exercise may be helpful for patellofemoral syndrome and patellar tendinitis.