My Achilles Repair Protocol Week 1-6 Post-Op

My Physical Therapist gave me a copy of my Post-Op protocol, which I am following now 4 1/2 weeks after surgery, and I thought I would post it for you.  I am glad I chose my surgeon, with an aggressive protocol.

  • 2 WEEKS Post-Op

Begin PT

Partial WB in boot with heel lift

No dorsiflexion past neutral

Edema control

Ankle AROM all directions

Ankle mobility/joint mobilizations

Foot intrinsic strengthening

Scar tissue mobilization, STM along gastroc/soleus complex

Quadricep/Hamstring/Hip strengthening and stretching

  • 2-4 Weeks Post-Op

Progress WB

Stationary bike in boot

Seated BAPS

Begin resisted plantarflexion (seated heel raises, theraband plantarflexion)

  • 4-6 Weeks Post-Op

Wean off crutches (2 crutches to 1 crutch to FWB)

Begin closed chain lower extremity strengthening in three planes of motion when FWB (Mini-squats, wall squats, leg press)

  • 6 Weeks Post-Op

Wean out of boot at home (with heel lift in shoe)

Progress to no boot over next two weeks

Ankle brace if prescribed by doctor

Single leg proprioceptive exercises


This entry was posted on June 20, 2015 at 11:33 am and is filed under Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

3 Responses to “My Achilles Repair Protocol Week 1-6 Post-Op”

  1. ATRbuff, on June 20th, 2015 at 2:20 pm Said:

    Hi Bob

    You’re correct, reasonably aggressive, which should be good for sound recovery. Boot is definitely earlier than many which seem to start weaning off at around weeks 7 or 8, and in shoes by 9.

    What about the angle of your foot, is it to change every 2 weeks or so? Static or with a range of movement, as in an adjustable hinged boot?

    Looking forward to hearing back.

    Buffy

    ps (sorry Bob) Norm, are you back, you old f***?

  2. oscillot, on June 21st, 2015 at 2:19 am Said:

    Aggressive is right. Good luck, and listen to your body.

  3. bobfv, on June 21st, 2015 at 6:54 am Said:

    ATRbuff - I am in an Aircast boot with two large lifts. I see the doc again at 6 weeks, I suspect they will come out then. The lifts make it uncomfortable to walk now that I am FWB, which is good in a way - keeps me from overdoing it.