Almost 3 Years Later - Stronger Than Before
I’ll be at 3 years on July 11, 2014…
All’s well and back to normal though I still have my Achilles–healthy one mostly–on my mind when I do anything strenuous. On December 17, 2013 I hit my goal of squatting 6 plates which equates to about 310 pounds. At 51 that was an amazing accomplishment in itself. I’ve since reduced the weight to a maintenance weight at 250 pounds. I’ve not experienced any pain, tenderness, or discomfort in my calf, foot or Achilles. I learned how to use proper form using the Stronglifts 5×5 program (http://stronglifts.com/). It worked really well for me. My weight is down to about 5-10 above college and I feel stronger.
I still will not play basketball but I did play beach volleyball a year after tearing my Achilles. That was very strenuous on my Achilles but didn’t hurt or feel threatened. I iced it good and kept an eye on tightening but all went well. I’ve probably played beach volleyball a half dozen times now but for whatever reason I will not play basketball.
Measuring my calf I still notice that it is about 1/4″ smaller in diameter from the healthy one but I can live with that. The Achilles is still thicker than the other but not as noticeable to most unless they look carefully.
Hope this gives some inspiration to those recovering from this devastating injury.
May 12th, 2014 at 8:10 pm
Way to go!
I’m not sure we can avoid ATRs, but I am convinced that beach volleyball is way AT-safer than basketball, or court volleyball. The latter sports’ perfect traction, with squeaky shoes on a polished floor, maximizes the tension on the AT, therefore the possibility of an over-tension ATR.
But if you have a choice between tearing the other one in a few years playing ball or when you’re 82 on the front step of the Seniors Home, I’m not convinced delaying is a benefit.
July 16th, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Hello Kickstand, good on you for blogging again three years after the rupture. It’s appreciated by those such as me.
Which AT did you tear: left or right? If it’s your non-jumping leg perhaps it was always a centimetre or two smaller and/or slightly shorter. (That was always the case with my legs, even though I also spent a decade moving very heavy weights in deadlift and squat well before my ATR).
July 16th, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Now I see in your profile that it was your right :/