Richard Haynes PTA/CPT - 1/12/2009

Question
QUESTION: I am a 34/F and approximately 10 years ago I ruptured my left achilles tendon playing basketball.  I had the surgery to reattached the tendon but did not do any form of rehabilitation afterwards.  Therefore my left leg is a little thinner than my right.  
For the past 4 years I have jogged/yoga and due to having had recent surgery (nothing to do with my achilles) I have not been able to jog or do any form of exercise.  I am finding that in the mornings and sometimes throughout the day that my left leg (upper) aches.  Even prior to stopping the jogging it would ache occasionally, but not as bad as it has become.  
The pain feels like it is coming from behind the muscle as when I push down and massage the muscle it give me relief.  Do you think the ache in my leg is due to not having done the rehabilitation or just due to the achilles injury and is there anything I can do now do to stop this from happening?

ANSWER: Onyx,


By not having done the rehab earlier after the surgery,  I am sure the calf and the underlying muscle the soleus did not get as strong or back to their current strength levels that they were prior to the rupture.

When you mention the "upper leg" are you meaning the upper calf area? or thigh? I will in this instance believe its the calf area.

The muscles could have been strained as they may not be as flexible as they should be due the the surgery there in the past.

I would recommend to stop the jogging or anything high impact on the affected leg, invest in if you do not have in  a good moist heating pad apply the pad on the affected area for 30 minutes then start a stretching program once a day for 10 days to two weeks and see if you get some relief.

Now if that does not do the trick you may want to if the pain gets worse and you develop trouble walking for instance then have an MRI taken to rule out any type of tear or minor rupture to the area.

Try the heat and stretching for the time being and see what this does.
Let me know if you are talking about another muscle group other then the calf area though.

Richard Haynes
Punta Gorda, Florida.
www.richardhaynes.com
www.totaljointfitness.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry I wasn't more specific.  I was actually talking about the  upper leg muscle (thigh) and I am fairly flexible as I thought it a good idea to do yoga to strength my body for other activities.  I don't seem to have any trouble with my calf muscle or even my achilles, but I do stretch a lot through the yoga and after jogging.  Thanks

Answer
Thanks for the clarification.  i would continue to do what I suggested earlier with the heat then stretch.

Could be a quadricep strain which will heal on its own but the heat, stretching and, refraining from running right now will take care of it.
Its just one of those injuries that tend to hang around and can be chronic if you continue to push it. You can then slowly test it out again in time and see how it responds with very short runs at first.

I would like to think 3 weeks is a good time to test it out may not need that amount of time or may need more its a tough call.

See how it responds then let me know if you have the time.
There is a small possibility the quadricep could be affected by a minor gait or running pattern you have developed due to the previous Achilles injury.

Richard Haynes
Punta Gorda, Florida.