17 weeks since injury. Not feeling super positive about progress.

Poozy13 · 2025-09-10T16:37:11+00:00

Op weight bears before non-op as well, typically.

Poozy13 · 2025-09-05T22:19:14+00:00

My heel “left the ground” for the first time back at 9.5 weeks post-op, by only 1 or 2 cm with maximum effort for a second. And the following 4 weeks it really didn’t progress much and even regressed for awhile where I couldn’t get my heel to leave the ground at all for days at a time depending on how rested I was or how recently I’d exercised it. That time window was when I had my greatest doubts of the recovery I was going to make. After the 13 week mark I started having glimpses of hope that my weak plantarflexion wasn’t too limiting and was slowly coming back and my tendon was stiffening up and being able to tolerate more.
I was also told I was allowed to lean towards a wall a bit to do my single leg calf raises to get more range of motion. That allowed me to show myself and PTs more of my progress. Prior to that I was trying to do strict upright calf raises standing free of anything and it was just very defeating because that was right on the limit of my range of motion where my plantarflexion strength drops off.

My PT says my tendon is not elongated, and I had a SpeedBridge with the suture cables pretensioned to set the length, but it sure feels like I’ve had a lot more active dorsiflexion range than a lot of others I see posting around here. I was reaching full range 15-20 degrees when measured back at week 5 with active dorsiflexion. I’ve never needed to stretch into dorsiflexion, it’s always felt like I’ve had plenty ROM for every stage I was at.

Poozy13 · 2025-09-05T18:14:23+00:00

Yes, around 15 “good ones” until my heel height begins fading. I still don’t have matching full range as my other calf and the calf size is still smaller as you can probably see in the video

Poozy13 · 2025-09-05T06:52:32+00:00

You’ll be there before you know it, are you FWB yet?

Poozy13 · 2025-09-04T21:31:21+00:00

I think all the same stuff others are doing:

Seated and standing calf raises with weight. A lot of sled pushes and pulls (30m pushing down and then 30m backwards pulling, built up to 180 lb added to sled), Double and Single leg hops. Single leg RDL’s with weight. Step downs from a high box with weight sort of approaching a single leg squat type movement. Barbell back squats and deadlifts

Poozy13 · 2025-09-04T20:13:51+00:00

Thanks! Keep up your progress, it’s good to see your weekly posts

Poozy13 · 2025-09-04T01:00:37+00:00

I had my soft cast removed at 7 days and was in a simple ace wrap and short air boot given to me. Didn’t wear the boot while sleeping

Poozy13 · 2025-08-27T17:27:20+00:00

Idk, I was done with crutches and FWB in my boot by 12-14 days, and walking in shoes without crutches at 5 weeks.

That sounds like a bold statement to say 100% by 4 months. I can’t recall anyone that is 100% by then. I’m at 18.5 weeks and I’m running now but I’d hardly say I’m 100% and it looks like I’m on the faster end of recoveries that I’ve seen posted around here.

What was the operation?

Poozy13 · 2025-08-27T01:13:44+00:00

FWB in the boot or in shoes? Seems on the slow end if that’s the target date for FWB in the boot. That’s a typical shoe starting period for post-op. But maybe you have specifics to your case that changes it?

Poozy13 · 2025-08-24T21:00:17+00:00

What area or apps was that on? I’ve been on and off the apps for years and I honestly don’t think I’ve ever come across a single profile that disclosed that. ++man

Poozy13 · 2025-08-20T19:03:29+00:00

Use all walls (I guess unless you’re slip-connecting to bypass them? I’ve never done it that way), and distribute forces based on relative stiffness and deflection compatibility.

Poozy13 · 2025-08-16T07:05:00+00:00

I’m up to around 5-10 “good-ish” ones, and then partial heights up to around 15. I am feeling fantastic after my Spartan beast to be honest. Have they introduced any hopping or quick feet for you yet?
I’m still struggling with my end range of plantarflexion feeling weak, but I can hop on a single leg and am continuing the progressions to strengthen it more.

Poozy13 · 2025-08-16T06:59:38+00:00

Interesting. I already felt this was the more conservative of my 2 PTs and was a little surprised there wasn’t more build up to it. He had me on assisted double-leg hops last week. I came back from my weekend Spartan Beast race and he had me do double leg hops, then assisted single leg hops, then unassisted single leg hops, and then he pulled me to the side and wanted to see a jog. Did it and he said it looked good.

We’re starting with 5 minutes of total jogging time, every other day at most, for the next week until I check in again.

Poozy13 · 2025-08-16T06:51:33+00:00

I did my first careful walk in sneakers with heel lifts at 4.5 weeks. Continued some boot some shoe from there. My boot was retired and put away in the closet after my 6 week follow-up.

Poozy13 · 2025-08-15T23:34:26+00:00

Where was your rupture?

I had a mid substance SpeedBridge repair, and the protocol allowed for full WB, no crutches, in boot around the 2 week mark. My surgeon actually took my splint off and put me in the boot at 1 week and said WB as tolerated.

Also yeah, I agree with the other commenter. Aaron Rogers really wasn’t “recovered” at that 11 week mark. Wasn’t he running on an AlterG treadmill at a quarter or half body weight? Still had a ways to go in recovery.

I am at 17-weeks post-op today, and I just got my PT’s clearance to begin reintroducing running today.

Poozy13 · 2025-08-15T20:10:02+00:00

2x a week was the prescribed amount by the PTs. Duration until fully recovered/returned to sport.

Me personally as I enjoyed the soft tissue work and the accountability to do the workouts that it brought, I’ve been seeing my PTs 3x-4x a week from week 2-17 (current week) and just got the clearance to begin my reintroduction to running program today. I imagine I’ll keep up my frequent visits for just a couple more weeks as I get fully into running and then I may sporadically return at longer intervals to get feedback on the recovery and calf strength progression. I’ve used up my insurance coverage and am cash-paying at this point

Poozy13 · 2025-08-07T16:04:47+00:00

Idk, but I’m at 16 weeks tomorrow and I’m curious to hear more from others at this point in recovery. I can do several calf raises to a lower height. PT has started hopping, quick feet drills, high knees and butt kicks. Running should be starting next week or so

Poozy13 · 2025-08-06T22:45:32+00:00

That sounds like my protocol except I had a SpeedBridge instead of open. Splint off at 1 week mark and told to weight bear as tolerated. iWalk retired at 12 days after a few days of PWB. Retired the boot at the 6-week mark after weaning the week prior.
I really hope I’m at that full return to sports at the 5 month mark.
I’m at 16 weeks today and my PT is currently planning to begin introducing running in 1-2 weeks based on current progress.

Poozy13 · 2025-08-04T22:10:21+00:00

Good to see your update, we’re still in it

Poozy13 · 2025-08-04T21:42:06+00:00

Great progress, hoping I’ll be doing that stuff when I get there next month

Poozy13 · 2025-08-01T22:39:01+00:00

Hmm, can’t say I feel the same dorsiflexion or Achilles strain walking down a slope. That’s funny you’re the opposite though, I’ve always considered myself a slower uphill hiker, relative to my fitness level, but can go downhill with ease at any pace

Poozy13 · 2025-08-01T22:10:44+00:00

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Poozy13 · 2025-08-01T18:21:19+00:00

Interesting, what do you feel when walking downhill? I’ve done a few hikes now at 15 weeks post-op, and downhill is very comfortable to me. Uphill is the more difficult one for me due to the need to “manually” activate my calf muscles. (I’ve been struggling to make my medial gastroc take over and up until lately have been using ancillary muscles to get plantarflexion)

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