tightness of achilles tendon, hamstrings?

[Guest guest]

Rena,

Try aquatic exercises. There are many exercises for hamstrings, for

Achilles tendon, I use the " rocker board " in a variety of ways. In the

4-5 years that I have been faithfully in the pool, I have gained

muscle mass and at the same time loosened tightness and am much more

flexible. I do aquatics 6 days a week. Started with 2 days, gradually

increased duration. Now and then I take a few days completely off with

no residual tightness appearing. I also do mat Pilates even on those

days off.

~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

After a few weeks of taking vitamin C I had a lot of relief from tightness in my

feet and hamstrings. I didn't even know how much pain I was in until it was

gone. Now I can tell a big difference.

Mine were not as tight as what you are describing I believe because I had

surgery to lengthen them when I was 7. I hope one day soon we can put all the

pain and discomfort aside that CMT brings.

[Guest guest]

I would certainly keep stretching, and aquatics are good, but it may

also just be how the alignment in your tendons is holding your feet

and ankles. I have the same problem.

When I was young, doctors said that it wasn't really a matter of stretching to

increase range, because my tendons were already stretched to their limit just

getting my heel on the floor. My physical therapist used to stretch and massage

and work really hard to try and get more out of the tendons, but I still had the

same range of motion even with all of her help. So I wouldn't put too much

pressure on yourself.

I meet with my yoga teachers and explain my situation, then do the best I can.

One doctor told me that essentially I was walking on my heels all day because I

could point my toes so far and my relaxed state was much more pronounced that an

average person. Amazing what the body can do

Take care,

Lenka

[Guest guest]

Hi Rena,

I was doing downward dog the other day with my sister (who also has CMT1A) - her

heels were totally on the floor, mine about 4 inches off. When I did yoga

regularly my teacher and I had a routine so she almost sat on my lower back to

force my heels down. It was extreme stretching which took the two of us which

worked. My heels got to about 1 inch off the ground. Due to my work travel I

am not doing yoga anymore with a teacher but I think that with a team stretching

(your husband for example) you could get the flexibility back. It can be tough

and I would go to a PT and ask for him or her to instruct you two together on

how to stretch you without injury.

All the best,

Donna from London