Physiotherapy for Achilles Tendon Repair

Physiotherapy post Achilles tendon repair is important for your road to recovery. The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body, and is susceptible to rupture. Although post rupture, surgery is dependent on several factors, inevitably physiotherapy is a needed service for return to baseline status.

Goal of Physiotherapy

• Allow the tendon to heal, reduce pain, swelling and inflammation
• Restore tendon and muscles to original strength and flexibility
• Gradually return to normal activity and training levels.
• As rehab progresses goals are based on your bodies response.

Treatment

There are three stages to rehabilitating a total rupture of the Achilles tendon. Over the course of rehab, you will transition from cast, boot, and wedge insoles, until your Achilles can manage full range of motion, flexibility, and strength. Stages are based on a time-based approach.

• 0-2 weeks
  • non-weight bearing with crutch
• 2-4 weeks
  • air cast with walking boot and heel wedge
  • active flexion down and to neutral position of ankle
  • non-weight bearing exercises
    hydrotherapy
• 4 – 6 weeks
  • weight bearing as tolerated
  • continue 2 – 4 week regimen
• 6 – 8 weeks
  • remove heel wedge
  • weight bearing as tolerated
  • gradual resistance exercises
  • gait retraining
  • fitness to include weight bearing
  • hydrotherapy
• 8-12 weeks
  • wean off boot
  • continue with range of motion, strength, proprioception
• >12 weeks
  • continue with above
  • increase dynamic weight bearing
  • retrain strength, power and endurance.

Click here to book an appointment or call 1 888-825-7045.

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