When Can I Run Again after a diagnosis of Achilles Tendinitis?

Tendinosis is a condition where the tendon has become structurally weaker, and as a result is flimsy and incapable of withstanding the physical demand of running. It operates normally during daily activities, only revealing its true nature with physical exertion.
What can be done about tendinosis? From recent scientific studies, it appears the repair is influenced by mechanical load.
A group from the University of North Carolina has demonstrated a relationship between tendon healing and eccentric exercise. The mechanical load produced by eccentric exercise appears to promote DNA and collagen production tendon cells of the epitenon and internal tendon compartment communicate mechanical signals through gap junctions and respond differentially to mechanical load and growth factors. You may think that by resting your ailing heel cord you are healing it. Instead, the prolonged inactivity may leave you pain free but weak.
The first step in a rebuilding program for Achilles Tendinosis is to find your pain-free threshold to rise up onto your toes. This motion will load the Achilles tendon. Most physical therapists use a Variable Incline Plan (VIP) such as a Total Gym for the test. Each angle of the VIP is a specific percentage of body weight. By raising or lowering the VIP, one can increase or decrease the physical force applied to the tendon.
Your training requires both eccentric loads to stimulate collagen production and high volume repetitions to stimulate the sluggish tendon metabolism. By the end of a session, you should have a low level of pain. The pain indicates the training has stressed the tendon. The pain will subside within 24-36 hours.
Every two weeks, your PT will test your pain free threshold and adjust your training accordingly. To run, you need above body weight force capability. The forces created while running are 4-5 times body weight. To help you shorten your rebuilding time, maintain and improve your cardiovascular fitness and give you a glimpse of what is possible, we recommend a Newton Speed Trainer. The Newton Speed Trainer is an unloading device that allows clients to run on the treadmill at below body weight forces.
Healing tendon requires physical loading. While stretching, massage, ice and other measure relieve the discomfort; only one thing changes the physical capacity of tendon: controlled loading. To learn what your load tolerance is and how to exercise to optimize recovery time, schedule a consultation with the doctors at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists.