Doctors of Running Podcast

#165 The Anatomy, Function, and Rehab of the Achilles Tendon: Lessons from Matt’s PhD Dissertation

Nov 15, 2023
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INSIGHT

Tendons as Elastic Energy Storage

  • Tendons act like rubber bands connecting muscles to bones and store elastic energy during running.
  • The stiffness and elasticity of the Achilles tendon help push off in running, improving efficiency.
INSIGHT

Tendonitis vs. Tendinopathy

  • Tendonitis is acute inflammation while tendinopathy is chronic degeneration without inflammation.
  • Many runners have Achilles tendinopathy without pain, highlighting the disconnect between symptoms and pathology.
INSIGHT

Calf Muscle Isometric During Running

  • While running, calf muscles contract isometrically with little length change despite large ankle motion.
  • Most ankle range of motion comes from stretching and recoiling of the Achilles tendon, not from calf muscle shortening.
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