Calf/Achilles Tendon Strengthening

Presented By:

260 Sheridan Avenue, Suite B40

Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 322-2809
(650) 325-6980 FAX
www.smiweb.org
Sports Medicine Institute International

These exercises are specifically designed to strengthen the calf/achilles complex and prepare it for the stresses it must withstand during
running. None of the exercises should irritate the achilles. If irritation does occur then STOP that exercise immediately.

There are three levels of strengthening outlined in this guide. If the achilles is still somewhat irritated with normal walking only use the
beginning exercises. As the achilles can handle more stress and is not irritated with normal walking progress to the intermediate
exercises. Incoporate the advanced exercises when you are actually able to run without pain. It is important to do the exercies barefoot
as well as with your actual running shoes on. I recommened completing a set of exercises barefoot followed by a set with your running
shoes. If you wear orthodics make sure that your orthodics are in your shoes.

Beginning Exercises

1. Knee Pointers
Stand with your toes 2-3 inches away from a wall. Keep your weight on your heels. With your heels on the ground, slowly bend your
knees until they touch the wall (Figure 1A). (Count for 5 seconds on the way down.) Without resting your knees against the wall, hold
your knees in the bent position for two seconds and then return to the starting position. Repeat, but this time move your knees at a thirty
degree angle to the right (Figure 1B). The movement should come from the ankles and not by rotating your feet or twisting your hips.
Repeat again moving your knees at a thirty degree angle to the left (Figure 1C).

Reps:

Sets:

Figure 1A Figure 1B Figure 1C

2. Toe Walking
Keep you upper body erect and hold your hands behind your low back as
shown. As your left foot lands, let your left heel come as close to the
ground as possible without touching and then come up onto your toes as
high as possible before pushing off the ground. Take very short steps and
walk for 15 meters with your toes pointed straight ahead and repeat for 15
meters with your toes pointed in at a 30 degree angle and again with your
toes pointed out 30 degrees.

Reps:

Figure 2 Sets:
Intermediate Exercises

3. Heel Drops
Stand on your toes with both heels over the
edge of a stair or ledge (Figure 3A). Your
knees should be slightly bent for the entire
exercise. Lift your left foot off the stair and
slowly drop the heel of your right foot down
as far as you can (Figure 3B). (This should
take 5 seconds.) Hold the position for 2
seconds and then put both feet back on the
stair and push up onto your toes again. Repeat
with your right foot pointed 30 degrees to the
right (Figure 3C) and 10 reps with your left
foot pointed 30 degrees to the left. Try to keep
most of your weight on your feet and use your
fingertips against a wall to keep your balance.

Reps:
Figure 3B Figure 3C
Figure 3A
Sets:

4. Single Leg Knee Pointers

Stand with your toes 2-3" away from a wall. Balance on your right foot and slowly bend your right knee until your knee touches the
wall (Figure 4A). It should take 5 seconds to bend down to the wall. Keep your body weight on your heel and not your toes. Hold this
position for 2 seconds without resting your knee against the wall. Repeat by moving your knee 30 degrees to the left (Figure 4B) and
again 30 degrees to the right (Figure 4C). Make sure the movement occurs at the ankle and not by rolling your foot or twisting your
hips. For added difficulty do the same exercises with a dynadisc (Figure 4D).

Reps:

Sets:

Figure 4A Figure 4B Figure 4C Figure 4D

5. Toe Pointers
Stand approximately 2 feet away from a wall. Balance on your left foot with your right leg extended in front of you. Bend your left
knee and bring your right foot straight ahead until your toe touches the wall (Figure 5A). Hold this position for two seconds before
returning to the starting position. Repeat by angling your right foot and left knee 30 degrees to the right (Figure 5B) and again 30
degrees to the left (Figure 5C). Make sure that the movement comes from the ankle and not by rolling your foot or twising your hips.
For added difficulty do the same exercises using a Dynadisc.

Reps:

Sets:

Figure 5A Figure 5B Figure 5C Figure 5D

Advanced Exercises

6. Toe Hopping 7. Low Box Hops

Hop in place on one leg. Your leg should act like a spring. Do This exercise is very similar to toe hopping except this time
not pause when your foot hits the ground. Your heel should never you are hopping up and down from a 6" box or stair. Let
touch the ground for the entire exercise. Start out with short hops your heel drop down below the edge of the box.
and progress to higher hops.
Reps:
Reps:
Sets:
Sets:

Figure 6 Figure 7

Other Exercises

These exercises are not specific exercises to strengthen the calf/achilles complex. They do address certain biomechanical aspects of
running that could play into calf/achilles problems and are very good exercises for runners to do on a continous basis.

8. The Runner
This exercise must be completed using a theraband. Close the knotted end of the band in a door. To strengthen the left side stand with
your left side facing the door. Balance on your left leg with the knee slightly bent. With the right leg in front of the left wrap the
theraband around your right thigh as shown (Figure 8A). Keeping the left knee slightly bent move your right leg and arms in a running
motion. Repeat with the right leg behind the left (Figure 8B). For a more advanced version, when the right leg is in front and you drive
the right leg forward straighten your left leg and come up onto your toes at the same time.

Reps:

Sets:

Figure 8A Figure 8B

9. Barefoot Running
Barefoot running is one of the most effective ways to strengthen the muscles in the foot, ankle and lower leg. You should do this on a soft
grass surface (the infield on the inside of a track often works well). Make sure that you have no pain when you are actually running
barefoot. I recommend running a mile or so barefoot at the end of a run 2-3 times a week. You can also use it as a cool down after a hard
workout.
 260 Sheridan Avenue, Suite B40
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650-322-2809
650-325-6980 FAX
www.smiweb.org
Sports Medicine Institute International

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