Yoga anyone?
Dear fellow achilles-rupture-sufferers,
This is a question rather than a post - anyone know of good useful poses while still recovering from the tendon rupture? I am a great fan of yoga and used to doing it every morning. Needless to say, I can’t do the salute to the sun anymore now and I miss it. I come out of the boot on Monday which might make it easier to do yoga, but also a bit more scary without the support.
I heard from the physio (over the phone while making the first appointment for next week) that balancing on one leg is out (dough!) so no tree-poses for me.
Any advice from yogis out there?
Thanks 
August 8th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
No Yoga experience here, but: Re-learning how to balance on your injured leg is an important part of rehab. If you still have the boot, you could always use it to give you more security while doing balancing “moves” or poses. Alternatively, I (and I think many others, too) found it possible to find “safer” places to work on balancing without the boot, when the time came for that. Doorways are usually good, with lots of visual and tactile reference points AND lots of things to grab if/when you start losing your balance.
You’re kind of looking for substitutes for that horizontal metal bar that’s always found in ballet studios!
I’ve heard of some PTs recommending eyes-closed balance exercises, which I think are way too scary-risky-dangerous while you most need to re-learn to balance. In fact, leaving part of your body (like the back of a finger or two) brushing against a wall or a doroway can be a useful “cheat” in the early stages.
I’m sure there are some Yoga folks here who can give you suggestions that are closer to REAL Yoga. . .
August 9th, 2010 at 6:37 am
Dear Normofthenorth,
Thanks for the tips. I like your cheating ideas too. I am looking forward to the boot coming off for good in a few days’ time when I head to the physio. The doc seemed quite happy for me to do as much/any yoga as I liked and felt happy with (and with not boot on as well). In fact, he seemed happy to let me do anything though at the same time seemed to suggest I should keep the boot until the physio (since “I am used to it now” ?? odd).