shootingthebreeze’s AchillesBlog

Ive been following my physio’s return to running program for a couple of weeks now, and today had an assessment with her to check progress.

In the ‘program’ I’ve got set ‘walk then run’ times, and it says that when I have done each of these three times then I can move on a level.

I read that as meaning three on the bounce, not three separate sessions, and instead of a nice steady 4mins walk and 2mins jog, I immediately kicked off with an 18min mixed treadmill session, after a 5min warm up on bike, and followed with a 500m concept2 row & another 5min on bike to cool down …. Then stretches.

We had a chuckle as I seem to have moved on about 8 weeks in two on the return to running program. That said, I eased off the heel raises and that showed when the tape measure came out. Good foot rises 4″, recovering one just 3″ ….. And I need to show 20 at 4″ before we can load it up for increased strength.

I didn’t exactly get a telling off, but I could sense that she was a little disappointed by this, and I guess I was a bit surprised having got stuck into the running, which is something I don’t really do ….

Guess I’ll be working on the heel raises a bit more before my next assessment, as well as carrying on with the gym work.

I’ve also just found out that with work I’m due to entertain a visitor by way of a round of golf …. I’m assuming that I’ll be okay playing golf given that I seem to cope pretty well with watersports etc

Happy heeling folks

Things must be improving as I’m checking in here less and less.
I’ve managed some time on the water, some bike rides, plenty of general going about my day kind of activities and generally speaking I’m up and about relatively normally.
From a physio’s viewpoint, I have full range of motion and it’s all about building up the strength.
I’m doing heel raise and lower reps on steps and once I can do 20 without loss of height on my recovering Achilles then it’s time to load me up with a backpack and some weights to really build up strength.
Also that’s my official return to action ‘marker’ so I’m playing gentle until then
Next step on the rehab program is treadmill work, with a ‘return to running’ program which should also help me with some cardio fitness and in turn trim the weight a touch.
Over the last 5 months I have actually put a little weight on, perhaps half a stone, but I guess this time of year I always put a little weight on through reduced time on the water and the Xmas excesses.
Perhaps my Achilles rehab program will see me start the 2012 season fitter than perhaps I started the 2011 one …. How about that for irony?
Hope everyone else is recovering well, they say 12 months, but I’ve been leading a relatively normal existence after 3-4 months. Everyone is different, but don’t look at the 12m as a fixed term repair and signifying the end of your life as you know it. Thinking that way messed with my mojo and it’s easy to believe that it could take that long as this injury really hits you like a juggernaut !!!!!!
Stay positive, be patient ……