Have u or anyone else tried the balance and eccentric reach workout a.k.a Walt's Special Achilles Strengthener. It's basically like a one-legged squat putting extending the free leg out in front, out at an angle to the left, and out at an angle to the right. This works the achilles of the single support leg in the three planes: the sagittal, frontal (side-to-side), and transverse (rotational). These are the three same planes which the achilles is worked through all at once when running.
I've done this before but never for the achilles. I don't have too many achilles issues with my athletes so perhaps it works.
Or the swedish eccentric calves, which are basically the down movement to get to the start position of heel raises coming from the plantar-flexed position. Another way to describe it is a one-legged eccentric movement of the lower leg complex, from up on the ball of foot to where the heel is below the step. These swedish eccentric movements are done with a slight bent knee and straight leg.
I've done single leg eccentric calf raises on a couple occassions but can't say anything conclusive. I know eccentrics are very useful for tendonitis. Dan Pfaff uses eccentric calf raises quite frequently.
ELITETRACK Founder