ACHILLES TENDON RUPTURE

Achilles Tendon Rupture Post-Op Rehabilitation Protocol:

This protocol provides you with general guidelines for rehabilitation after Achilles rupture repair.
Specific changes in the program will be made by your physician as appropriate for each individual patient.
Each individual heals at a different rate. It may take up to 12 months to make a full recovery, and it is not unusual to have intermittent aches and pains throughout the course of your rehabilitation.

Non-weightbearing in a short leg splint the first 2 weeks after surgery
- There is a risk of re-rupture throughout the post-operative course and you should not attempt to put pressure on the operative site until you are cleared to do you by your surgeon
- Sutures are typically removed at 2 weeks
You will be given a walking boot with heel wedges at your first postoperative visit
- Depending upon the complexity of your surgery, you may transition into removable walking boot 2 weeks after surgery
- Once you begin weightbearing in walking boot you will remove 1 heel wedge each week, this will be explained to you in detail at your first postoperative visit
Physical therapy will start at 2-4 weeks post op
You may begin driving at 8-12 weeks after surgery depending upon your progression
- Note: It is illegal to drive while wearing a walking boot

Patients typically transition to regular shoe wear with heel lift between 6-10 weeks
At 12 weeks you can begin gentle higher impact activities
It may take up to 12 months to make a full recovery, and it is not unusual to have intermittent aches and pains throughout the course of your rehabilitation
Once you can perform a single heel rise or single leg hop, you may able return to sports and other high impact activities. This may take between 6 months to 1 year depending upon the complexity of your fracture and your progression during rehabilitation