achilles tear recovery timeline

[naturallight]

Just had a great checkup from my doc regarding my achilles tear and he said I can start hitting balls in about a month! I'm currently in week 9 of this recovery process. It's been brutal.

Here has been my general timeline:

- First month: no walking--surgery & cast, then boot pointed down with crutches & scooter
- Second month: walking with boot--toe raises, band work for ankle, gym for general leg work
- Third month: no boot--PT to work on balance and ankle strength/mobility, can walk on tip toes and drive a manual
- Fourth month: hope to be hitting some balls!

How it happened: took that initial step for short ball and heard a big pop like a bungy cord snapping. I was slightly wrong footed at the time, and ended up putting all my weight on the outside of left foot, which I think did me in.

Best exercises for recovery: the bike, as it gets the heart rate up and slowly strengthens/stretches everything. Most of the PT exercises are very helpful too, especially the rockerboard which forces you to roll your ankle around as well as anything associated with rebuilding your balance.

Other tips: icing makes a big difference. Cutting back on the beers in the first two months really helps keep your weight from ballooning.

Happy to answer any questions on my achilles tear recovery timeline.

 

[Gemini]

Just had a great checkup from my doc regarding my achilles tear and he said I can start hitting balls in about a month! I'm currently in week 9 of this recovery process. It's been brutal.

Here has been my general timeline:

- First month: no walking--surgery & cast, then boot pointed down with crutches & scooter
- Second month: walking with boot--toe raises, band work for ankle, gym for general leg work
- Third month: no boot--PT to work on balance and ankle strength/mobility, can walk on tip toes and drive a manual
- Fourth month: hope to be hitting some balls!

How it happened: took that initial step for short ball and heard a big pop like a bungy cord snapping. I was slightly wrong footed at the time, and ended up putting all my weight on the outside of left foot, which I think did me in.

Best exercises for recovery: the bike, as it gets the heart rate up and slowly strengthens/stretches everything. Most of the PT exercises are very helpful too, especially the rockerboard which forces you to roll your ankle around as well as anything associated with rebuilding your balance.

Other tips: icing makes a big difference. Cutting back on the beers in the first two months really helps keep your weight from ballooning.

Happy to answer any questions on my achilles tear recovery timeline.

Good luck with your recovery! I know the process well. Complete rupture of mine in October 2010. Came out of the boot back into a regular show at the end of January 2011.

Just a quick note. Don't rush your return to the court. Even though I came out of the boot in January of that year, my right leg (injured leg) did not feel normal enough to get back on court until November 2011. I'm now about 95% back and still working through some scar tissue, but I have no real issues on court related to the injury. YMMV.

 

[naturallight]

Good luck with your recovery! I know the process well. Complete rupture of mine in October 2010. Came out of the boot back into a regular show at the end of January 2011.

Just a quick note. Don't rush your return to the court. Even though I came out of the boot in January of that year, my right leg (injured leg) did not feel normal enough to get back on court until November 2011. I'm now about 95% back and still working through some scar tissue, but I have no real issues on court related to the injury. YMMV.

Ok, good to know. Wow, 13 months before back on the court? What do you think was the hardest to get back--strength, coordination, mobility/flexibility, mental, or something else?

I'm hoping for 4 months to hit a few groundies, and maybe around 6 months to start playing some matches. But it is a long road, for sure. I have heard from other guys that even at 12 months, they only felt about 90%.

Did you wear any extra equipment as you were coming back? I'm wondering if one of those ankle braces that Roddick used to wear would do any good.

 

[ollinger]

Gemini's point is more in line with usual recommendations. Orthopedist colleagues of mine recommend at least 6 months before trying to get on to a tennis court.

 

[Gemini]

Gemini's point is more in line with usual recommendations. Orthopedist colleagues of mine recommend at least 6 months before trying to get on to a tennis court.

Let me point out that my surgeon told me I could get back on the court immediately after the boot came off in January 2011. He told me to listen to my body and not to push beyond my limits. I chose the route of not hitting any balls until I started to re-develop the strength, coordination and control in my right leg to the point where it felt more normal for me. I spent a lot of time working to correct the imbalance that came as a result of not using that leg for a few months and I think it was worth it. Couple that with a busy work and every day life schedule, that slower pace worked for me.

 

[Gemini]

Ok, good to know. Wow, 13 months before back on the court? What do you think was the hardest to get back--strength, coordination, mobility/flexibility, mental, or something else?

I'm hoping for 4 months to hit a few groundies, and maybe around 6 months to start playing some matches. But it is a long road, for sure. I have heard from other guys that even at 12 months, they only felt about 90%.

Did you wear any extra equipment as you were coming back? I'm wondering if one of those ankle braces that Roddick used to wear would do any good.

That's why I ended my message with YMMV (your mileage may vary). The hardest part for me..I guess...was/is flexibility. Mentally, no issues at all. I had no problems pushing myself to get back. In the beginning, I had reservations and was very cautious because things were still healing but with every follow up visit to my surgeon, I gained confidence.

The only coordination issue I had (and still have to a small degree) is pushing up on my tip toes without the outer three toes wanting to "clinch". Initially I could not get them to relax when I pushed up on my toes. That's getting better as I develop strength in my foot.

As for strength in general, that came in time and the only real difficulty I had there was making the mind-muscle connection when trying to re-build the muscle in my calf and foot. With the tendon now thicker at the re-attachment point, the sensation of fully activating my calf muscle was different. I started performing calf exercises with lighter weights to really make the connection of what exercises and foot positions activated various areas of my calf.

If anything, the mobility/flexibility was probably the most difficult. I (you) can only push the tendon so hard for so long before it becomes sore and have to stop for a rest. Also, my surgeon mentioned that pushing too hard in the recovery process can sometimes backfire and result in added scar tissue when you're trying break through the surgical scar tissue. So..doing strength work every day may not be the best thing, but using various latex/rubber band, in my case, to help stretch the muscle and increase the range of motion of the tendon/ankle is something I did five days a week.

As for the ankle brace, both my therapist and surgeon told me not to use one. They stated that you want the muscles to re-develop and re-learn how to support the ankle on their own. I followed their advice and I think it was the best route for me.