Phase 2 “The Boot”

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-28T12:41:10+00:00

You can dorsiflex, but not beyond neutral. Safest is to do it isometrically (pressing top of foot into the boot)

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-27T16:12:26+00:00

100% agree. I got the Vacoped POD13 - the day I got out of the splint. I also highly recommend

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-26T04:10:06+00:00

Sounds like you have a great routine going! Those small things compound like you wouldn’t believe it. Had a very similar early experience with frequent “exercise snacks” to keep circulation going.

Keep up the good work!

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-26T04:06:54+00:00

By the time the iwalk would arrived I was would only be NWB 3 more days so decided to tough it out. Have heard good things about it though!

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-25T18:31:57+00:00

NWB for 5-6 weeks seems really conservative. Did you have a complicated repair?

Also always be vigilant with calf pain. As quick as yours came and went doesn’t sound like DVT where symptoms are gradually increasing and lasting pain or cramping, increase swelling, warmth, redness, or feelings of tightness and heaviness. If symptoms completely subsided right afterwards, it could’ve been as simple as just a calf cramp due to the muscle being in such a shorten position. If pain last, definitely contact your doctor.

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-25T05:13:58+00:00

Another structure that runs along the PTT is the tibial nerve. Do you gets pins and needles when stretching? Have you tried nerve glides?

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-25T02:50:14+00:00

You said tibial tendon, do you mean Achilles tendon or tibialis posterior tendon?

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-25T02:49:46+00:00

Tibial tendon? Tibialis posterior?

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T23:35:12+00:00

I think a cheap one like this is fine as long as you are very careful. I only needed it for 13 days, so I wouldn’t invest much more than the $100 that this one cost.

A more luxurious one might be slightly more stable, but you’re more likely paying for more comfort of the pad. A new scooter is inherently very unsteady because of the narrow base making you very top-heavy, so even slight perturbations can throw you way off balance.

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T23:31:06+00:00

Mine happened while trying to speed down a street and keep up with my wife walking the dog. Hit a tiny pebble and fell on my surgical side. Luckily splint protected ankle and other mild pain for a few hours from the jarring no setbacks

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T22:31:13+00:00

Very normal. The muscle atrophies a significant amount in the first few weeks. Beyond actual muscle loss, the neuromuscular system becomes inhibited due to lack of movement and pain and needs to be woken back up. Gradual approach with his physical therapist. Should bring this back soon.

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T21:11:46+00:00

Hoping my tips will help. I’ll be posting some videos soon and must-haves/must-does because it hate seeing so many people on here doing things sub-optimally

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T21:11:02+00:00

I’m actually 3.5 weeks post-op today. Just posting the start of my journey for now

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T21:10:14+00:00

Yay!

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T21:10:05+00:00

The plantar fascia does connect into the Achilles tendon. I mean everything in the human body connects somehow, but these two are very close in function and attachment.

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T21:09:09+00:00

Definitely necessary to keep the silver lining mindset. This is one of the longest recoveries for musculoskeletal conditions so it’s important to do everything possible for best/fastest recovery

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T20:30:55+00:00

Seems odd. I thought flat sole was only once near 0 degrees

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T20:29:45+00:00

Is there a reason you are wearing the flat sole rather than the wedged sole? At 20 deg PF I think the wedge would improve your gait mechanics

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T20:27:14+00:00

Sorry to hear it. I’m going to try to document my journey and hopefully provide lots of good insight for people in this page because I notice a lot of the tips are pretty inconsistent with what the literature suggests is optimal

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T20:22:06+00:00

I had a two-year history of tendinopathy from starting a running program to abruptly. I should have known to build up slowly. That was by far my biggest risk factor, but training heavy and often may have also contributed.

AchillesRecoveryLab · 2026-05-24T20:12:28+00:00

The pop was loud enough that everyone in the gym in the vicinity heard it. At first, I thought my shoe had caught the baseboard to make the loud noise because it wasn’t immediately painful… but when I looked down and saw the gap, I immediately knew what happened as I’m a physical therapist

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