The calf muscles and Achilles tendon work together each time you push off. A rehabilitation plan may progress from tolerable heel raises to heavier and more demanding work as capacity improves. The choice of exercise and range depends on the presentation, including whether pain is in the midportion or close to the insertion.

Strength work is a means to a running goal, not a test to pass once. We also look at how you handle repeated steps, pace and terrain. Progressing every variable at the same time makes it harder to understand what is helping or aggravating symptoms.

WHEN TO GET HELP

If an exercise causes a clear worsening that persists, the load or diagnosis should be reviewed.

Further reading

This is general information, not a diagnosis or an individual rehabilitation plan. An assessment may change the advice that is right for you.