Achilles Tendon Rupture — Repair

University of Colorado Anschutz (CU) · Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery, Foot & Ankle / Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

NWB in splint wks 0-2; TDWB in boot wks 2-4; WBAT in boot wks 5-6; FWB wk 7+; boot D/C wk 8

Key Restrictions

No ankle/foot ROM wks 0-2; PROM limited to DF 0 deg with knee flexed to 90 wks 2-4; no passive Achilles stretching wks 2-4; no resisted eversion wks 2-4; avoid aggressive eccentric loading; splint in 20 deg PF

Timeline & Phases

4 phases: Phase I Recovery (0-6 wks), Phase II Rehabilitation (7-12 wks), Phase III Restoration (13-16 wks), Phase IV Return to Sport (17+ wks)

Notes

.edu site; heel raise progression: bilateral seated → bilateral standing → unilateral; running criteria: 3 sets of 15 unilateral heel raises with BW; shuttle/Pilates for sub-max accel/decel before full plyometrics

Surgeon / Author

Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery, Foot & Ankle / Sports Medicine