dwolf’s AchillesBlog

Comment by Mr WordPress

October 15, 2013 @ 12:51 am

Hi, this is a comment.
To delete a comment, just log in, and view the posts’ comments, there you will have the option to edit or delete them.

Comment by normofthenorth

October 15, 2013 @ 3:20 pm

I’m guessing your “Isn’t it the strangest feeling when you try to dorsi flex your foot and it barely moves?” really means “Isn’t it the strangest feeling when you try to PLANTARflex your foot and it barely moves?” In the first ~2 months of rehab, you should probably totally avoid dorsiflexing your foot at all. But the muscle(s) and tendon(s) that DO dorsiflex your foot — e.g., from toe pointed way down up to neutral = 90 degrees (which is pretty safe) — should be as good as new, totally capable of dorsiflexing (and over-stretching your still-healing AT).

As you can see from the best and most successful modern rehab protocols — like bit.ly/UWOProtocol — it’s generally helpful to start PWB around 2 weeks in, and to get to FWB by around 4 weeks in. There’s no good reason to wait until your ankle is in the neutral position to start standing and walking FWB in the boot, IMO — though some docs and some patients imagine that there is.

Comment by Ron

October 16, 2013 @ 2:10 am

Hi Dwolf,

Sorry to hear about you Achilles Rupture. I feel you pain. I am going on 6 weeks and things are looking better. I was PWB at 3 weeks, sleeping bootless at 4, and FWB at 5. In essence, I agree with Norm, who is the man. I would avoid Dorsi Flexion as well until 8-10 weeks.

Lastly, I am not sure if you can decrease by 3 degrees, I think it’s 5.

With that said, here is a link to a few different protocols in simple format to discuss with you doc. Norm’s link is also there.

LINK: http://achillesblog.com/pgat2013/2013/10/06/a-capsule-of-my-first-4-5-weeks-with-tips-and-linksneeds-tips-and-input-from-the-atr-vets/

First link describes my first 4 weeks and the second covers protocols, exercises, etc. for up to 20 weeks+

Hope it helps and good luck with your recovery.
Ron

Comment by Ron

October 16, 2013 @ 2:15 am

One last note…It helps a lot to do exercises if you want to get your Flexion to normal.

Comment by craiger9er

October 17, 2013 @ 10:54 am

ROM exercises are great when you’re ready for them. I remember laying in bed with my foot up, writing the alphabet with my toes in the sky, then counting 1-9 a few times with them.