Martel, Matthew S

Seth -



Sorry to hear about your foot. Unfortunately I have had problems with

Achilles tendonitis in both legs. It comes and goes but I have gotten

better at managing it. The advice you got from Erik is excellent. This

is exactly what my doctor prescribed as well. This will get it to stop

hurting.



I also got some great advice from Andy Pruitt, the director for the

Boulder Center for Sports Medicine. I came across this guy when

attending a Carpenter/Phinney bike Camp in Colorado in 1999. He is well

known in the cycling medicine world. Apparently he worked on Lance's

back some years ago.



He told me to do all the things Erik's doctor mentioned. He also told me

to slide my cleats back on my shoes. The decreases the length of the

fulcrum thus decreasing the stress on the Achilles tendon. You may have

to lower your seat a bit in combination, but not much. This really

helped me. Also, when it starts feeling better, get in the habit of

stretching it before and after rides. Think of your Achilles as a rubber

band made of many tiny fibers. When cycling we extend this rubber band

thousands of times in a very limited range. In some people it can cause

an overuse injury, basically tendonitis. Stretching it helps to make it

more flexible throughout the whole range of motion.



Hope this helps.



Matt Martel



-----Original Message-----

From: Seth May [mailto:se-@maykids.org]

Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 7:14 AM

To: 'obra'

Subject: [OBRA Chat] Tendonitis in the Achilles tendon





I thought I'd send this question out to the obra-pedia.



Background: When I rode the RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and

Party) at the beginning of August, it was rainy and cold the entire 7

hours of riding the first day. I'm not sure if that caused the

tendonitis or was just a factor. The second day, my Achilles tendons

were quite sore in both legs. After the ride, they really stiffened up

and were very sore making it hard to walk, ride, and climb or descend

stairs. I started icing on and off, and took about a week off the bike.

In a week, my right leg was back to normal, but the tendonitis persisted

in my left leg. I've taken substantial time off the bike in the last

month hoping that this problem would go away.



Currently, even my short, easy, 10 minute commutes to work and back have

started aggravating it (it is sore (I can't fully extend my ankle

joint), and swells up, sometimes to the point that the tendon feels like

its grinding). The pain has started to change from just sore to having

sharp pain when I fully extend my ankle.



My questions: Have any of you had problems like this before? If so, how

did you tackle it? Is it time to call in a doctor? Is it something my GP

can take care of, or should I be talking to a specialist of sorts?

Recommendations of specialists in the Eugene area?



Thanks

--

Seth May

Technical Consultant

Educational and Community Supports

University of Oregon

(541) 346-2470, (541) 346-5517 (fax)

set-@uoregon.edu



To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com.

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To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com

.David.Auker.

I've "ridden through" a visibly swollen Achilles tendon area, complete with

tactile and audible "squeaking" (I'm sure you could hear it in a very quiet

room...definitely could feel it). My main occurrence of this affliction was

during a two-week, 100-200 mile/day tour, so I wasn't exactly babying it.

But, what I felt was best was a pedal-stroke with heel-down, so as not to be

excessively moving the tendon. I'm certainly no exercise physiologist, but

it was my impression that I was actually moving the tendon less in its

sheath this way, and it felt a tolerable thing to do! My discomfort mainly

came with walking, and who needs to walk when you can ride? :-)   (I'm not

completely serious there, btw!)



We're all built differently...from our physical makeup to its management to

our tolerances.



If you ride, I would suggest a slightly lower saddle position if you at all

perceive its on the high side for keeping your foot relatively flat. I'm

sure it's unavoidable that there will be some movement of the tendon, but

minimization should be a goal.



As they say, "your mileage may vary," and your main cautionary feedback in

taking anyone's advice is the amount of pain involved (of course, as

cyclists, we love pain, right?).



It is such a quandary: to ride or take time off. Both plans, of course,

have their merits in varying situations (my fractured pelvis last summer

was..."time off")!



David





----- Original Message -----

From: "Seth May" <se-@maykids.org>

To: "'obra'" <ob-@topica.com>

Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 7:13 AM

Subject: [OBRA Chat] Tendonitis in the Achilles tendon





 I thought I'd send this question out to the obra-pedia.



Background: When I rode the RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and

Party)

 at the beginning of August, it was rainy and cold the entire 7 hours of

riding the first day. I'm not sure if that caused the tendonitis or was

just

 a factor. The second day, my Achilles tendons were quite sore in both

legs.

 After the ride, they really stiffened up and were very sore making it hard

to walk, ride, and climb or descend stairs. I started icing on and off,

and

 took about a week off the bike. In a week, my right leg was back to

normal,

 but the tendonitis persisted in my left leg. I've taken substantial time

off

 the bike in the last month hoping that this problem would go away.



Currently, even my short, easy, 10 minute commutes to work and back have

started aggravating it (it is sore (I can't fully extend my ankle joint),

and swells up, sometimes to the point that the tendon feels like its

grinding). The pain has started to change from just sore to having sharp

pain when I fully extend my ankle.



My questions: Have any of you had problems like this before? If so, how

did

 you tackle it? Is it time to call in a doctor? Is it something my GP can

take care of, or should I be talking to a specialist of sorts?

Recommendations of specialists in the Eugene area?



Thanks

--

Seth May

Technical Consultant

Educational and Community Supports

University of Oregon

(541) 346-2470, (541) 346-5517 (fax)

set-@uoregon.edu



To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com.

To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org

To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com

eri-@fusium.com

I had tendonitis in my Achilles a year or so ago. My doctor told me to take

ibuprofen regularly to address swelling "from the inside", ice to address

swelling from the outside, and stretching to help prevent it happening

again. She also gave me pads for my shoes to elevate my heel, but they were

annoying and I didn't use them much.



The great Mr. Phil Sanders also told me to adjust my position on the bike

slightly, which I did. I believe Phil does bike fittings, as do a lot of

other people in Oregon.



I also stayed off the bike for a week or so. It was iffy when I started

riding. One thing that I felt really helped was to always wear booties when

it was under 60-65 degrees out. I feel keeping it warm was key to getting

back up to speed on the bike.



I'd say see your doctor. I don't think tendonitis is something so rare you

need to see a sports exercise specialist. And perhaps you should get your

bike position evaluated by someone who knows - definitely a specialist.



Good luck!



___

   Erik Voldengen    2037 NW Lovejoy       503-226-7099

   Fusium, Inc.      Portland, OR 97209    www.fusium.com



-----Original Message-----

From: Seth May [mailto:se-@maykids.org]

Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 7:14 AM

To: 'obra'

Subject: [OBRA Chat] Tendonitis in the Achilles tendon



I thought I'd send this question out to the obra-pedia.



Background: When I rode the RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party)

at the beginning of August, it was rainy and cold the entire 7 hours of

riding the first day. I'm not sure if that caused the tendonitis or was just

a factor. The second day, my Achilles tendons were quite sore in both legs.

After the ride, they really stiffened up and were very sore making it hard

to walk, ride, and climb or descend stairs. I started icing on and off, and

took about a week off the bike. In a week, my right leg was back to normal,

but the tendonitis persisted in my left leg. I've taken substantial time off

the bike in the last month hoping that this problem would go away.



Currently, even my short, easy, 10 minute commutes to work and back have

started aggravating it (it is sore (I can't fully extend my ankle joint),

and swells up, sometimes to the point that the tendon feels like its

grinding). The pain has started to change from just sore to having sharp

pain when I fully extend my ankle.



My questions: Have any of you had problems like this before? If so, how did

you tackle it? Is it time to call in a doctor? Is it something my GP can

take care of, or should I be talking to a specialist of sorts?

Recommendations of specialists in the Eugene area?



Thanks

--

Seth May

Technical Consultant

Educational and Community Supports

University of Oregon

(541) 346-2470, (541) 346-5517 (fax)

set-@uoregon.edu



To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com.

To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org

To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com

Seth May

I thought I'd send this question out to the obra-pedia.



Background: When I rode the RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party)

at the beginning of August, it was rainy and cold the entire 7 hours of

riding the first day. I'm not sure if that caused the tendonitis or was just

a factor. The second day, my Achilles tendons were quite sore in both legs.

After the ride, they really stiffened up and were very sore making it hard

to walk, ride, and climb or descend stairs. I started icing on and off, and

took about a week off the bike. In a week, my right leg was back to normal,

but the tendonitis persisted in my left leg. I've taken substantial time off

the bike in the last month hoping that this problem would go away.



Currently, even my short, easy, 10 minute commutes to work and back have

started aggravating it (it is sore (I can't fully extend my ankle joint),

and swells up, sometimes to the point that the tendon feels like its

grinding). The pain has started to change from just sore to having sharp

pain when I fully extend my ankle.



My questions: Have any of you had problems like this before? If so, how did

you tackle it? Is it time to call in a doctor? Is it something my GP can

take care of, or should I be talking to a specialist of sorts?

Recommendations of specialists in the Eugene area?



Thanks

--

Seth May

Technical Consultant

Educational and Community Supports

University of Oregon

(541) 346-2470, (541) 346-5517 (fax)

set-@uoregon.edu