December 11, 2024
As I’ve mentioned on previous posts, my recovery is a series of milestone events and achievements.
From the original injury to surgery to reattach the ruptured Achilles Tendon to the initial post-operative splint to the 2+ weeks cast to my ‘walking’ boot… I’m now into the next phase of my recovery… Physical Therapy.
Physical Therapy. For us runners that phrase sounds pretty good. “Physical” meaning exercise… and “Therapy”- like who doesn’t feel better after some good therapy… right?
So, with cautious excitement, I Uber to my first physical therapy appointment.
Forms. Always forms. Completed and I finally meet the physical therapist. She’s a very nice and knowledgable young lady with an ear-to-ear smile. She starts by asking all the pertinent questions, and then measuring my current flexibility/limitations.
She advises that my orthopedic doctor has a specific regiment that he wants to use in all such recoveries following a ruptured Achilles Tendon… with emphasis on ‘FOLLOWING THE SCHEDULE’…and nothing more. (No matter how I feel.)
She must know me… as she looks at me straight into my eyes and says… “Promise?”
I return the look into her eyes and say, ‘Yes… I promise.’
And for once, I really mean it. There is one repeating phrase I’ve heard from several friends that have been through a similar recovery process: i.e. ‘FOLLOW THE PHYSICAL THERAPY INSTRUCTIONS… PERIOD!’
At first simple exercises…
… Pick up marbles with your toes and place into a cup.
… Outline the alphabet with your foot
… Circle your foot 20 times in the clockwise direction… then 20 times counterclockwise.
And more. And that was just visit # 1.
Visit # 2 had me expanding to a stationary bike. She gives me the OK to start using any leg exercise in my routine that does not utilize a ‘curl’ and thereby avoiding working/stressing my Achilles Tendon/calf muscle.
Finally! I can work my legs.
My therapist provides me with handouts that both explain and show the desired exercises. (The geek in me creates a spreadsheet of these exercises so I can easily access/review from my phone while at the gym.)
The next day at the YMCA, I eagerly implement my new exercises and spend almost 3 hours working out. Truly fun times!
More ‘normal’ never felt so good!
Let’s talk! Email me at RupturedRunner@gmail.com.
Ruptured Runner 
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