Achilles Tendon Loading Progression Exercises

Are you coming back from an Achilles tendon or a calf injury? If so, this article will show the order of exercises with the lowest loads to the highest loads of the Achilles tendon. This is a valuable guideline for rehabilitation because excessive loading can lead to setbacks or another tendon injury.

Achilles Tendon Loading Progression From Lowest to Highest Load in Order

Narrow stance
Squat
Tandem stance
1 leg stance
2 leg heel raise
Walking lunges
Walking
1 leg heel raise
Running
2 leg jumps
1 leg jumps

There are other treatments such as manual joint and soft tissue mobilizations, stretching, rolling, eccentric strengthening that can be performed to facilitate your rehab. To learn more about calf pain causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention, click on this link.

If you are experiencing calf or Achilles tendon pain and would like help returning back to your prior level of activity or have any questions, please visit us at www.fpphysicaltherapy.com.

Reference: Gheidi et al. 2019. Achilles tendon loading during weight bearing exercises. Physical Therapy Sports Jul;32:260-268