CHICHESTER FOOT AND ANKLE
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    • Lateral ligament stabilisation surgery
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    • Injections for foot and ankle pain
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    • I am not near West Sussex or am outside the UK
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    • Internal
    • Rehab protocols >
      • Rehabilitation from achiles tendon rupture treated without surgery using VACOped boot
      • Recovery from achilles rupture without surgery using VACOped boot
      • Rehabilitation from achilles tendon rupture treated without surgery using Boot and Wedges
      • Rehabilitation from achilles tendon rupture treated with surgery in Aircast boot and wedges
      • Foot and Ankle rehabilitation

Achilles tendon rupture treatment without surgery using Aircast boot and wedges

Rehabilitation after achilles tendon rupture
This document gives you information about what to expect from your early recovery. It is also intended as a guide for your longer-term rehabilitation after Achilles injury, which you can use in conjunction with a physiotherapist from around 8 weeks after injury.
1-2 weeks after injury
  • You will be seen in the clinic and changed to a removable boot with wedges.
  • You may start to walk on the injured achilles in the boot with wedges.
  • You should not remove the boot at night.
  • Keep your knee, hip and toes moving.
  • You should be taking blood thinning medication to prevent blood clots until 4 weeks after injury.
  • You do not need other physio at this stage.
  • You may remove the boot each day from 2 to 8 weeks after injury to bathe your foot, whilst keeping your toes pointed down.

​2 weeks to 8 weeks after injury
  • Increase your walking, you do not need to use crutches if you are comfortable without.
  • Continue to use the boot at night.
  • Continue blood thinning medication (dalteparin) until 4 weeks after injury.
  • If you start with 5 wedges in your boot, remove one each week from the start
    of week 3, so there are none left at 8 weeks.
  • You will be reviewed in the clinic at between 6 and 8 weeks after injury.

8 weeks to 12 weeks
  • You should be wearing your boot when walking but may remove it at night.
  • You may start physiotherapy to begin strengthening the calf muscle with exercises such as gentle resistance work with a theraband.
  • Avoid stretching the calf muscle before 12 weeks after injury.
  • Physio should focus on achieving a foot which can be comfortably placed flat
    to the floor. You should avoid body-weight strength work. 

12 weeks to 14 weeks 
  • You may be back in your normal shoes, but avoid completely flat shoes for another 6 weeks. 
  • Physio should focus on weightbearing stretches, gait re-education and light strengthening exercises e.g. seated calf raises. 
  • You should avoid isolated single leg strength work. 

14 weeks to 20 weeks 
  • Continue to avoid single leg calf raises and impact activity (such as running). 
  • Physio should focus on supported strengthening with exercises such as 
    bilateral calf raises, cycling and walking (no incline), hamstring curls, small range lunges. 
  •  Commence proprioceptice exercises such as single leg standing. ​

20 weeks to 8 months 
  • Work on regaining normal movement. 
  • Aim for achieving gastroc strength of 80% of the other side. 
  • Return to jogging/running. 
  • Work on increasing endurance and return to sport-specific activity. 
  • Avoid single leg heel raises until 6 months post-injury. 

8 months onwards
  • Active single leg heel raises . 
  • Return to normal activity. 
  • No restrictions on activity. 
  • Work on regaining pre-injury strength. 
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​NHS Secretary:
Fred Morling
​Tel: 01243788122 ext 33263 
Chichester Nuffield
​Private secretary:
​Sarah Palmer
Tel: 01243753022

Goring Hall secretary:
Medserv/ Natalie
​Tel: 01903953201
Book an Appointment
Copyright © 2015
  • Chichester Foot and Ankle
    • Foot and Ankle Specialist Mr Dawe
    • Patient Testimonials
    • News
    • Privacy
  • Foot and ankle conditions
    • Bunions
    • Big toe arthritis
    • Achilles tendinopathy
    • Achilles tendon rupture
  • Treatments
    • Cartiva
    • Bunion Surgery
    • Ankle replacement
    • Lateral ligament stabilisation surgery
    • Slant board exercises
    • Injections for foot and ankle pain
    • Fusion Surgery
    • Consent for surgery
  • Foot and ankle referrals
    • Foot and ankle surgeon appointments
    • Information for GPs referring patients with foot and ankle pain
    • I am not near West Sussex or am outside the UK
  • Resources
    • Sites of foot pain
    • Links to other foot and ankle services and resources
    • Internal
    • Rehab protocols >
      • Rehabilitation from achiles tendon rupture treated without surgery using VACOped boot
      • Recovery from achilles rupture without surgery using VACOped boot
      • Rehabilitation from achilles tendon rupture treated without surgery using Boot and Wedges
      • Rehabilitation from achilles tendon rupture treated with surgery in Aircast boot and wedges
      • Foot and Ankle rehabilitation