I know that eccentric calf raises help a lot for achilles injuries as a rehabilitation method, but why? I'm looking for physiological reasons!
Thanks in advance! :)
I know that eccentric calf raises help a lot for achilles injuries as a rehabilitation method, but why? I'm looking for physiological reasons!
Thanks in advance! :)
I've heard a couple of different things. First, you are strengthening the calf which helps to take some load off the tendon when running. Second, you are breaking up the collagen in the tendon that does not form aligned like normal, healthy tissue. As the tendon is repaired, the collagen is mostly a jumbled mess. The normal tendon fibers are all nicely in a line. The exercises break up the "messy" fibers and promotes aligned growth.
I think that it is eccentric heel drops that tend to be recommended for achilles issues.
The short explanation for why they work is that eccentric movements help you target the structural tissue that acts elastically rather than the contractile tissue that performs work. If you do a bunch of heel raises you are putting the stress in the muscles. If you do eccentric heel drops you shift the stress to the tendon.
Sorry, I tend to use calf raises and heel drops for the same thing... obviously something I should have specified.
The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their correct names. "Calf raise" sounds like you are lifting animals.
This gives a good overview.
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