chronically tight calf

Your hips are probably out of alignment which pulls on your hamstring which pulls on your calve. Get a professional opinion but it could be a simple solution.

Bummer. Have you tried eccentric heel drops? Those are supposed to be super helpful for achilles tendinosis.

I recently learned there are actually two different muscles in the calf, which may be old news to everybody else. Make sure you stretch/strengthen them both. In general, it seems that most calf exercises can be done with either a straight leg or with the leg bent about 45 degrees at the knee. You should do some reps both ways to get the best effect.

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/ankle-achilles-shin-pain/achilles-tendonitis/strengthening-exercises-achilles-tendinitis

What shoe are you training in?

heel drops wrote:

Bummer. Have you tried eccentric heel drops? Those are supposed to be super helpful for achilles tendinosis.

I recently learned there are actually two different muscles in the calf, which may be old news to everybody else. Make sure you stretch/strengthen them both. In general, it seems that most calf exercises can be done with either a straight leg or with the leg bent about 45 degrees at the knee. You should do some reps both ways to get the best effect.

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/ankle-achilles-shin-pain/achilles-tendonitis/strengthening-exercises-achilles-tendinitis

Yeah, I was doing tons of eccentric drops at first, but they knotted my calf up even worse so I stopped. My achilles is slowly getting better -- probably for complete lack of running for 6 months -- but I don't think it's going to fully heal until I can figure out how to loosen the calf. Thanks for the thought, though.

gr8 wrote:

What shoe are you training in?

I've been successfully bouncing between Brooks Ravenna & Adrenalines for years -- have always been a mild pronator, not totally flat feet but pretty low arches. My achilles problem started when I was wearing Adrenalines (which has slightly more pronation control), so I went back to the Ravennas for about a month, got frustrated with the pace of healing, and switched to Saucony Guides. Whenever I attempt to start back up, I'm planning to use the Guides just because they felt a little more natural on my feet.

I was worried that the slightly stiffer Adrenalines were putting more stress on the achilles, hence the Ravennas & Guides. Do you think I'm going in the wrong direction, i.e. should go for a more supportive shoe in case the pronation is torquing on my achilles?

I hope you find a solution. You said physiotherapists weren't helpful - what about a sports medicine doctor? Have you gotten any advice or diagnosis?

I visited a sports medicine doc this week for a problem with my ankle. He mentioned the possibility of some ultrasound treatment. As I understand it, they use ultrasound to stimulate the tissue inside the ankle, or maybe to break up old scar tissue or something. I wasn't entirely clear on the details since I'm not doing that procedure, but maybe there's a similar treatment option for your calf issue if nothing else has helped.

A lot of people suggested a chiropractor for my ankle issue. I haven't tried that, but it makes some sense, as hips, quads, calves, ankles are interconnected and problems in any one can affect the others. It might be worth a shot for you.