Calf Heart Attack

[Michael]

Years ago when I was running I had something similar with my calf. A guy named Monty sent this article to me. www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20846383/calf-heart-attacks/

He also told me about an exercise called the Calf Drop. In a nut shell it's a one leg calf raise with just the negative. You help yourself up with the other foot. He told me 3 sets of 10-15 reps would do the trick. Never had a re accurance of this injury in years. I don't do this exercise now but it sure helped alot. I thought I'd share if anyone that runs every comes across this injury.

[TexasRanger]

Nov 19, 2018 0:36:25 GMT Michael said:

Years ago when I was running I had something similar with my calf. A guy named Monty sent this article to me. www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20846383/calf-heart-attacks/

He also told me about an exercise called the Calf Drop. In a nut shell it's a one leg calf raise with just the negative. You help yourself up with the other foot. He told me 3 sets of 10-15 reps would do the trick. Never had a re accurance of this injury in years. I don't do this exercise now but it sure helped alot. I thought I'd share if anyone that runs every comes across this injury.

Michael,

I posted something about this on AMM in rebuttal to one of the posts by the Psychic or his sidekick regarding isometrics and tendons: back when I was running quite a bit, was having Achilles Tendon issues hence calf problems.  The MD suggested eccentric exercises (negatives) where you stand on a step, for example, and lower yourself for 10 seconds for 10 - 12 reps, switch legs, and repeat.  Since I try to walk or run daily, I still do this but only a few reps and a couple of sets.

Some other tendon truths:

- Tendons receive LESS blood flow than muscles.

- Tendons, because they receive less blood flow, also receive less nutrients vs. muscle hence it takes longer for the collagen to form.

- Tendons take months to build tensile strength. Anyone (which includes the folks on this board) who has lifted learned from reading the weight lifting rags (one of the few times they got something right) and other sources that a muscle can get stronger more quickly than what a tendon can handle which can result in a tendon injury. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21625048

- Nearly all tendons are naturally stronger than the muscles they're attached to. Plain and simple, because of their role nature designed them to be stronger. Thus, any movement -- running, climbing, stretching -- is going to affect the tendon and stimulate strengthening. (Gourd, JeP...you getting all of this? )


How do you strengthen tendons? Guess what...isometrics are NOT the best way to train your tendons (not that you can train them directly). The best way is eccentric -- NEGATIVE -- training. Hmm. Where have we seen posts on negative training before, kiddos? Well right here when I posted those revelations a few months ago.


www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22097158

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15665207

[Michael]

I forgot to mention a couple of things. I do the Calf Drop off my basement steps. So I'm able to hold on to the railing. On the side I'm doing the negative I hold a weight. A 35lb KB works perfect for me.

I don't know all the science but it is interesting, Thanks. I didn't have a problem with my Achilles, it was a knot in my left calf. It has never came back since which has been a good 10 years or so. I didn't count seconds when I did the exercise. Just did it controlled which felt good. I do the Calf Drop when I'm going through a stint of running.