Thursday, 13 June 2013

Day 1.

30 minutes of David Swenson's Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice-First Series. 



600 Calorie Fast. Big bowl of porridge with strawberries

Day 2.
30 Minutes of Pilates (Pilates on Demand Class 104).

Day 3.
Nothing!!!

Day 4.

30 minutes of David Swenson's Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice-First Series. 


Day 5.
30 Minutes of Pilates (Pilates on Demand Class 106).

600 Calorie Fast. Bowl of muesli.

Achilles Tendon Rupture Recovery Exercises

Calf Raise
Calf raises can be done standing on the floor, or sitting on a chair, according to pain and level of injury. Stand on the floor with feet hip-width apart and slowly lift up onto the toes, pause, and then slowly lower to the starting position. To do these while seated, sit on a chair and perform the same moves. This reduces the weight applied to the tendons. It is better to start this exercise with three to five repetitions and gradually increase the number of raises to 10 to 15 repetitions per set.

Stretches
Stand with both hands against a wall. Place the toes of your uninjured foot close to the wall and take one step backward with your injured leg. Your front leg should be slightly bent. This is your starting position. Lean into the wall and keep your back foot flat on the ground. Lean in until you feel a slight stretch in the calf of your injured leg. Hold for up to 30 seconds, then slowly release and return to the starting position. Do up to 10 sets of this exercise three times a day.

Heel Drop
Stand on the stairs with both of your heels over the edge of the step. Hold onto the railing for balance. This is your starting position. Perform a calf raise -- lift up onto your toes, then slowly drop your heels down past the edge of the stair. Only go until you feel a slight stretch through the calves. Pause at the bottom of the movement, then press back up into the starting position. Do two sets of 20 to 25 repetitions. If you feel pain, stop immediately.

What is this blog for?

Since injuring my Achilles tendon I haven't been able to partake in my normal physical diversions. I used play a lot of Capoeira Angola, ride my road bike and go hiking.

I hurt my tendon while pushing on a skateboard and activity I'd done for years as a younger man.

When it was injured I fell out of the routine of exercising regularly. I stopped teaching Capoeira and began to roll back physical theatre lessons for fear of further aggravating the injury.
For about a month I wore a boot restraining anterior movement of the foot and began to use crutches.
Since the healing process has moved on I am able to walk again and I thought I was able to cycle. Aching tension in my calves told me cycling is still off the cards and walking should be kept to a minimum.

So I need to rest and stretch.

I have just bought a Footeez roller to help release the tension and so I can stop relying upon leaving bottles of wine in the sitting room or on my office desk.

So now it is time for me to commit fully to helping out my body and its parts. So hopefully I can get strong again and play Capoeira or possibly take up Triathlons.

We'll have to wait and see.

So this blog is going to serve as a training diary to document my journey for good or ill. 


Tips


  1. Keep shoulders on my back.
  2. Use my locks to draw through my upper body.