An Achilles rupture can really interfere with your daily life and can happen to young and active people. So if you have ruptured your Achilles during a tennis match or during a friendly game of pick up basketball don’t worry, we have put together the following list of frequently asked questions around how long it takes to get back to normal life following an Achilles rupture.
Our Top 5 tips for your Achilles rupture
If you are currently recovering from an Achilles rupture there are some great tips around stretching, physiotherapy, and self testing that can really help with your recovery. The main thing we want you to remember here is that recovering from an Achilles rupture takes time and patience is an absolute essential element in your recovery.
When can I drive again following an Achilles rupture?
This depends on the type of car you drive, and which foot has been affected.
If your left foot has been injured, and you drive an automatic car, you are in a better position as your right foot will be doing most of the work. We recommend you wait until around 2-3 weeks post injury. If you have injured your right foot and you drive an automatic, you will need to wait around 8-10 weeks.
If your left foot has been injured and you drive a manual car, you need this to control the clutch and won’t be able to drive for around 8-10 weeks. Additionally, if your right side is injured, you need to be able to do an emergency stop, so it will likely be longer than ten weeks.
It is important to check with your consultant, physiotherapist and/or car insurance company.
When can I cycle again following an Achilles rupture?
When you are in the boot, you can go on a static exercise bike with the supervision of a physiotherapist.
When you come out of the boot at around week 8 or 9,, depending on your exact protocol issued from your consultant, you can go on an exercise bike yourself. It is important to only push through the heel initially, not your toes.
You can return to full outdoor cycling around 16 weeks after injury. It is important to give this time, as we have experience where people have returned too early and sustained a re-rupture of their Achilles.
When can I wear a work flat shoe following an Achilles rupture?
After an Achilles rupture, you will wear walking boot for around 8-9 weeks. From then to around 18 weeks, you will be wearing a trainer. It is advised you wear an insole with a heel raise (1cm to start with) in your trainer to help support your Achilles. At 15 weeks, the heel raise can come out and you can wear your flat, work shoes.
When can I get back on the pitch following an Achilles rupture? (Football, rugby, hockey, etc)
It is very common to return to the pitch following your injury but it cannot be rushed and you must not go back until you have been passed fit by your physiotherapist. Normally, this is around 9-12 months after. It takes a long period of time to rehabilitate and build up strength to return to high impact sport.
For elite athletes, it is normally a bit earlier due to the regimented training sessions, at around 6- 9 months. This does vary between each individual and depends on how you progress throughout your rehab.
When can I wear my high heels following an Achilles rupture?
We recommend you wait until around 20 weeks until you wear high heels. If you have a smaller heel or wedge, you can wear these from around 18 weeks. This is because high heels are rather unstable, and we would not want you to sustain another injury.
When can I jog again following an Achilles rupture?
Most people can jog at around 5 months. It is important to work towards this with your physiotherapist, building up to your strength and activity levels with various functional strength markers. You must not rush your return, if you are not ready you are at risk of re-injury or a new injury.
When can I swim again following an Achilles rupture?
We generally advise you to wait until around 4 months. Unfortunately, this is due to the safety when getting in and out of the pool, due to the slippery floors. If you can be supervised by your physiotherapist in the pool, you can start earlier.
When can I play tennis again following an Achilles rupture?
At around 6-9 months. This varies, and you must discuss it with your physiotherapist to ensure you do not go back too early. You must be able to effectively load your Achilles tendon to endure the forces applied during tennis.
When can I return to work following an Achilles rupture?
If you are office based, you can return to work around 2-4 weeks following your injury.
If you are involved in any type of manual work, then it will likely be around 12-14 weeks. Depending on the intensity of labour, it may be a bit longer.
At Complete Physio we are experts in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of Achilles ruptures. Every year we treat hundreds of Achilles issues and pride ourselves on our knowledge and results. If you would like to book an appointment with one of expert physiotherapists please call 020 7482 3875 or email info@complete-physio.co.uk
When can I drive again following an Achilles rupture?
This depends on the type of car you drive, and which foot has been affected.
If your left foot has been injured, and you drive an automatic car, you are in a better position as your right foot will be doing most of the work. We recommend you wait until around 2-3 weeks post injury. If you have injured your right foot and you drive an automatic, you will need to wait around 8-10 weeks.
If your left foot has been injured and you drive a manual car, you need this to control the clutch and won’t be able to drive for around 8-10 weeks. Additionally, if your right side is injured, you need to be able to do an emergency stop, so it will likely be longer than ten weeks.
It is important to check with your consultant, physiotherapist and/or car insurance company.
When can I cycle again following an Achilles rupture?
When you are in the boot, you can go on a static exercise bike with the supervision of a physiotherapist.
When you come out of the boot at around week 8 or 9,, depending on your exact protocol issued from your consultant, you can go on an exercise bike yourself. It is important to only push through the heel initially, not your toes.
You can return to full outdoor cycling around 16 weeks after injury. It is important to give this time, as we have experience where people have returned too early and sustained a re-rupture of their Achilles.
When can I wear a work flat shoe following an Achilles rupture?
After an Achilles rupture, you will wear walking boot for around 8-9 weeks. From then to around 18 weeks, you will be wearing a trainer. It is advised you wear an insole with a heel raise (1cm to start with) in your trainer to help support your Achilles. At 15 weeks, the heel raise can come out and you can wear your flat, work shoes.
When can I get back on the pitch following an Achilles rupture? (Football, rugby, hockey, etc)
It is very common to return to the pitch following your injury but it cannot be rushed and you must not go back until you have been passed fit by your physiotherapist. Normally, this is around 9-12 months after. It takes a long period of time to rehabilitate and build up strength to return to high impact sport.
For elite athletes, it is normally a bit earlier due to the regimented training sessions, at around 6- 9 months. This does vary between each individual and depends on how you progress throughout your rehab.
When can I wear my high heels following an Achilles rupture?
We recommend you wait until around 20 weeks until you wear high heels. If you have a smaller heel or wedge, you can wear these from around 18 weeks. This is because high heels are rather unstable, and we would not want you to sustain another injury.
When can I jog again following an Achilles rupture?
Most people can jog at around 5 months. It is important to work towards this with your physiotherapist, building up to your strength and activity levels with various functional strength markers. You must not rush your return, if you are not ready you are at risk of re-injury or a new injury.
When can I swim again following an Achilles rupture?
We generally advise you to wait until around 4 months. Unfortunately, this is due to the safety when getting in and out of the pool, due to the slippery floors. If you can be supervised by your physiotherapist in the pool, you can start earlier.
When can I play tennis again following an Achilles rupture?
At around 6-9 months. This varies, and you must discuss it with your physiotherapist to ensure you do not go back too early. You must be able to effectively load your Achilles tendon to endure the forces applied during tennis.
When can I return to work following an Achilles rupture?
If you are office based, you can return to work around 2-4 weeks following your injury.
If you are involved in any type of manual work, then it will likely be around 12-14 weeks. Depending on the intensity of labour, it may be a bit longer.
At Complete Physio we are experts in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of Achilles ruptures. Every year we treat hundreds of Achilles issues and pride ourselves on our knowledge and results. If you would like to book an appointment with one of expert physiotherapists please call 020 7482 3875 or email info@complete-physio.co.uk
Don’t let pain hold you back, book now!
