Week 4: Achilles Tendon Rupture Non-Surgical - Partial Weight Bearing & ROM Exercises 

I just ruptured my Achilles. Crazy part is the way you described what and how it happened brought tears to my eyes. I’m a 33 year old athlete that plays basketball and that’s my passion. Your injury described mined to the T. Felt like someone kicked the crap out me in my calf. I cried past week until I ran across your testimony! It’s truly a blessing to see you walking again and living life. This video has really helped me tremendously due to non surgical route. I need yo document my journey as well. Maybe I can’t help someone like you truly helped me. Thanks for your thoughtfulness to others. True blessing!

I know these videos are a little old now but I've also unfortunately joined the achilles rupture party...! Just wanted to say thank you SJ for documenting your journey - I'm week 4 (conservative route) and basically using your videos as a recovery bible!! They're super informative, based on science/fact and just really encouraging in every way! Thankyou again! Lizzie (UK)

These videos inspired me to document my own current experience. I’m at week 4. Achilles Injury is such injury that requires patience and discipline.

Rewatching this as i’m in my ‘week 4’. The detail and tips you give are very helpful. I’ll give those exercises ago!

Possibly the best video I’ve seen on RU-vid... ever! Really helped me out with rehabilitation, I’m on week 5 but feel I’m a week behind with it, your recovery is definitely an inspiration cheers man

Thanks 4 this. I’m in my 50s & very active. Watching your videos has given me hope & knowledge. Good job. Just completed my 1st week in cast.

SJ is a life saver! I appreciate you for taking the time, while going thru the pain, to make these videos. You helped so many people (as i read in the comments), and myself. I am in my 12 month recovery and i feel fine, just some stiffness, due to me going back to normal life around month 4, and i stopped stretching as much. thanks you so much, and for the newbies that just tore, FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS, Stay a couple weeks ahead (still follow week by week) of SJ videos, and YOU WILL BE FINE!

I'm on week 4 of post op and Surgeon has me going from partial weight bearing to full weight bearing between week 4 - 6 but doesn't want me to see a PT until I am fully weight bearing on my boot. I have been so freaked out because I am anxious about a possible rerupture and just fear of not having used my foot in such a long time. Came across your videos and it has me feeling so much better about this whole process. Thank you so much!

I have also joined the Achilles rupture club unfortunately 😮 I find these videos very useful. Thank you very much for sharing this information. What I found particularly interesting about this video is that I too accidentally injured my foot about two weeks after my Achilles tear and was very concerned that I tore my tendon perhaps even more severely this time! 😢 Thankfully the damage was not as bad as it could have been as I was in a cast at the time and I learned today from this video that I cannot retear my Achilles so soon after it is already torn.

Hey SJ! Just want you to know that your videos are a HUGE help and a life saver! I’m currently going thru this and it couldn’t have happened at one of the worst possible moments of my life! Just know that your video updates play a big part in keeping me motivated to get thru this!

I am in week 5, and using your videos to support me during my recovery. Going the conservative route too.

SJ your videos are great for all us that are in the same unfortunate position. Pays off to do your research. I will also be going non operative route. Wishing you all the best!

I fell as well at week 2 - this video makes me feel much better. I concluded the same thing in that I had to slow down! I felt some tearing, so I was worried that I ruined my surgery, but the boot saved me. Thanks for this video.

Thank you for your excellent explanations! I'm completing week 3... (Prayers appreciated.)

Thanks for the even up sole tip, I ordered one!

This has been so helpful for me. I am now in week 5, non op. My progress has been good, in spite of lack of doctors and physios in the area. Your videos have helped a lot. Thank you!

I am coming up for 5 weeks post rupture non surgical. Your videos have been a great source of Info for me, thank you for taking the time to post

I ruptured my Achilles playing soccer two weeks ago to the day. The most heartbreaking part about this is the fact that I may never play again. The description is perfect to what everybody describes as the injury occurs. I looked around to see who kicked me before falling to the ground in pain and realizing that the bulge in the back of my calf above my soccer boot was not supposed to be there :( Two weeks into nonsurgical recovery and it's doing good (I think). Going to the hospital tomorrow to get the first cast off to raise the foot for the next casting and repeat over the next 8 weeks. I just found your videos on your recovery and it's amazing how much information you have shared. I hope you have made a good recovery. :)

Thank you I’ve been mentally drained from experience especially someone like me always being active and just on the go. Means a lot

I’m on episode 4 of this show (3 weeks into my own rupture) and I cannot wait to watch the season finale.

Thanks for such a re assuring video. I’m 51 years old and partially ruptured my Achilles playing squash last week. I’m so frustrated and have searched RU-vid for tons of info but your videos have been the most helpful. Just ordered the EvenUp! Thanks again

Hi SJ! I know this whole recovery was over a year ago but I'm a young athlete and I just ruptured my tendon a week ago. I've been really stressed about the whole process and whether or not I'll be able to play my favourite sports again but your videos have made me feel a lot better by being able to get an idea of what the whole process looks like and all the tips from someone who had the experience. Thanks!

This is so helpful. Ive been left til 7 weeks to start my physio so i was super keen to get going on my own before my appointment. Your video reallly helped along with Evan Brown and Agnes S. You guys are helpung me out big time info wise and exercise wise. Love the tip about the shower cap! I also to the the adjustment on my crutches with the even up its intuitive. Hope you're doing well with your recovery.

Wish I found you when I ruptured my Achilles. I’m week 4 and your video is massively helping. My Week four appointment was really poor no examination or just told to reduce my wedges by half and partial weight bear but no clear guidance.

Thank you for these videos! I'm in week 3 and I still have a lot of pain and swelling it seemed like I was healing and now it's painful again. I'm getting discouraged! I'm sure these videos are old but. I jus5 wanted to reach out and say thank you!!

Really enjoying watching your videos after full rupture 👍🏽 and don’t have a clue your info has really helped me feel better

Thank you so much for these videos. It's really hard to find video on non operative route. I'm 5 weeks out from a full rupture non surgical. I was pointed down in a cast for 3 weeks, then moved to a boot 90 degrees for another two weeks and now I'm starting to weight bear a little. My ankle is a little painful, but I've been doing your range of motion exercises, as I don't have PT yet. Thank you for these.

Thank you so much!! Week 4 non op for me😮‍💨 I fell off my knee scooter and thought that was it for me! Iced an elevated and next day was sore but ok

Thanks so much for these videos. I found out a week ago that I have a partial rupture to my Achilles, but my ultrasound results got lost in the (UK NHS) system for a month so I had been walking around on it for a while (strangely with no real pain and still able to do heel raises on one leg). I've been put in an Airstep boot NWB with a large amount of heel raises and waiting to see an orthopedic surgeon. The questions that you asked and info you give is so helpful. I'm writing down all the questions I want to ask when I finally get to see the specialist and really hoping that I don't have to go down surgery route (i.e. because it wasn't discovered straight away I'm fearful that the tear will have already healed and will have healed long)

This is my 3rd week and I've a boot to wear 24/7... your videos have been amazing and will continue to watch it week by week. Thank you so much and I hope you've recovered well (haven't watched your latest vids)

Appreciate this video- I am 3 weeks into my recovery from rupture, gone the non-op route, Out of cast and now in boot from this week and hoping to start partially weight baring from next week- these videos have helped me so much- more so than the Doctors.

I am on week three and these videos have helped me even with telling my surgeon what to do 😅

The physical therapy also probably makes certain that the tendon is not adhering to tissues on the side, which can probably provide forces leading to re-repturing the tendon (extra pull as you use the tendon). If the tendon slides smoothly then it probably reduces the risk of re-rupture. In some cases with surgical repair & adhesion, the tendon adheres so hard to the fascia or muscles that it explosively ruptures (penetrating out of the skin).

Thank you soo much for this up to date information. So helpful in a jungle of advices. Alot of these things are not being said when i speek to my doctor but because of your videos I can understand the information given and the background to it alot better. Nice 👍

Thank you very much for these videos. Atleast now I know I'm on the right track.

This exact scenario happened to me today…2nd week entering into the 3rd on my no op recovery and just saw my surgeon this morning…then I came home and tried to grab an Amazon package off my front porch the stupid all terrain wheel caught something and I fall right on my injured foot. I had my boot on but it was slightly loosened and bam! A sharp pain that felt like an less intense version of the pain I felt when I ruptured. I am seeing my surgeon tomorrow again to make sure that I didn’t make it worse but video definite made me felt better knowing that I can’t rerupture it at week 2.5

Thanks for the vids SJ. I’m much like Jason who commented previously. Boot fitted and given a crutch a day or so after injury and doc said use the crutch on the arm on good leg side! Anyhow doesn’t feel like any problems so far. Boot is on 99% of time. Obviously I’m not stomping around but I also managed to get an Evenup sole (brilliant!) and have pretty much been delicately weight bearing since day one. As Jason says they are interesting studies done on this alternative view.

Thank you again. I really use your advise a lot.

Hey SJ, Thanks a lot for your effort :) How come you did not go VACOPED boot (like Kobe) compared to the simple black one the public hospital gave you ?

Thanks very much for your most useful videos, I really found them helpful.

I was told to wear longer socks that are also compression socks for the foot in the boot. Therefore I've been wearing my football/soccer socks.

Hey SJ, I ruptured my Achilles 2,5 weeks ago going the non operative route and I'm scared shitless now that it will heal long after seeing how well you can do this exercise in week 4. When did you start to feel and also see that your achilles tendon had some preload again when you were just letting your foot hang loose? Thanks for the videos man!

Great video !

Had crutches aged 17 with osteochondritis dessicans surgery (& cast) for my knee. Everybody with crutches falls probably once or twice, maybe once every 2 months ...

Thanks so much for your videos!! 31yo athletic male with 2nd degree tear on dec 29th. I fell at around the 2 week marker off of my scooter as well😅. I'm going non op and have been making progress relatively the same as you. I'll continue to fillyoir story and hopefully encourage someone with my own youtube testimonial!!

I've been partial to full weight bearing but suddenly my foot swelled a lot. Is this normal?

Yo tambien tengo el tendon operado pero lamentablemente sufri un desgarro y estoy reposando

Paranoia is the worst thing about this injury. It seems so serious but its common

Currently in this predicament, going on week 4. I've been weight bearing since week 2.5 with my boot if I'm not using my scooter/crutches but as of now it doesn't bother me at all when I walk with no assistance as long as I have my boot with the wedges. My question is, do you keep the boot on 24/7? I take mine off when I shower since I have a chair in there where I can keep my foot flexed down.. and when I sleep I put on a brace. This injury is a nightmare for the simple fact it's so difficult to get around lol

I ruptured my Achilles and they had me in a walking boot with full weight bearing within 24 hours of the tear. If you google it there are a number of studies that show this has no drawbacks and can lead to better outcomes, and certainly higher quality of life. I’m on week 3 now and have had no pain at all - walking around with a moon boot. Even the day after the injury I was walking around with essentially no pain. No injections, no medication, no surgery - seems like the way to go. Not sure why it isn’t more common.

Hello SJ, I hope you are still responding to comments. I’m so blessed that I found your documentary. I have a 5cm tear in my Achilles, how wide was yours? Or anyone reading this post how wide was your tear? And did you go the non surgical route with success?? FYI I’m going the conservative route. I’m currently in a plantar flexion shell cast and it will be week 3 next Wednesday. I’m trying to get an idea of when I may be in a position to start early weight bearing. I pray all is well with you and your family!

Excellent ! I’m just over a week behind this video, and I’ve had a fall on crutches, Hoping I’ve not done any damage. You speak of your orthopaedic surgeon, but did you see a hospital physio? Any joy there?

Where I am it does not seem possible to find a new style surgeon. They all want to do surgery and I am also in a solid cast with no rubber base and foot at about 25 degrees. The doc also said I can put a bit of weight on the cast which is impossible given the angle.and the lack of traction. I am merely touching it on the floor while on the crutches. He has said I will bi in this cast for another 3 weeks! Worrying really!.

Great videos! Thanks for sharing your experience. I had surgery 4 days ago, full rupture. My protocol is with a public hospital in Syd 4 weeks NWB and then 4 week partial weight bearing with a boot. Haven't had my first clinic appointment at the hospital yet, but wondering if you could share the name of the surgeon you visited privately to look him up in case I decide to go privately. Thanks!

SJ, what about tingling and numbness? That has been my biggest issue here into my second week. I don't here people talking about that much, did you have that problem? If so, how long?

Great info mate but the volume is so low it's distracting to take in the important stuff.

SJ thank you for your video really great. Im in my week 1 last Sunday and next Tuesday second week I will be removing the cast and do xray I think and hopefully will be moving to Boots.

My evenup kept slipping off the back of my shoe. It was pretty dangerous, especially when it happened outside and there was nowhere to sit to fix it! I think the bit at the back needs to come up a bit higher. I'm out of the boot today (eek!) So I don't need it now anyway. I found it a waste of money as after it slipping off 4 times I first feel confident wearing it outdoors.

I have watched about half of your videos and found them very helpful, as I am in the midst of recovery from my right achilles tendon rupture, which happened about 7.5 weeks ago while playing tennis. I am 40 years old. Just today I finally had my cast removed and moved into a walking boot. Of course, I still am not even close to walking, or real weight bearing. My foot is still considerably swollen all around, and I can put what feels like only 20% of my weight on it, and can only walk with a substantial limp using one crutch. My doctor thinks I am recovering fine and as expected, which I want to believe. But I guess I expected that after 7.5 weeks in a cast, I would be able to at least do some considerably weight bearing and that the swelling would decline. But that's not the case. I am curious: how long did it take your swelling to go away completely after cast removal? When did you feel you could put all, or substantially all your weight on your injured foot? Perhaps I am just pessimistic about my case, or simply expected more by now. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks!!!

Don’t know if you’re still active here but I recently ruptured my Achilles and am going the non surgical route as well. Tomorrow will be three weeks since I ruptured it and I just wanted to know when did you notice swelling go down and the pain going away? I’m in a boot currently with wedges and I’m not supposed to put any weight on it, but my foot swells up in the boot and it’s very painful when trying to sleep at night. Just wanted to know if you had a similar experience and if so when you noticed overall pain and swelling go away?

Thank you!

JS, at what week or when can one stop elevating his foot?

Great videos! How much upward pull do you have on the towel as you push your foot down? Are you just letting the towel slip thru your fingers or are you providing resistance? Thanks!

Today my dr, said my situation need surgery because completely disruption my Achilles tendon base in my mri, i did saw my mri id they're ruptured, im able to walk

Hi SJ, after your fall did you continue doing the ROM exercises, or did you give yourself a little break. I had an identical experience where I fell off my scooter at the 2.5 week timeframe. Thanks :)

Hi SJ, thanks a lot for your videos. Very informative! I tore my Achilles on October 13th and they have been a great resource as to what to expect in the following months. I have begun my early weight bearing and feeling alright so far. What were some key signs that your Achilles was getting better in the early stages? Looking forward to the big milestone when I can finally walk in 2 shoes again.

Hey, I am on week 4 now. I am weight baring with both crutches. I have tried to go down to one but I’m so scared. I haven’t been advised to do any exercises!!

Hi SJ, really useful content... I am getting really poor treatment via NHS here in the UK so your information is really helpful. Can you confirm when you started the ROM exercises you demonstrate in this video? Cheers

Does anyone know how many wedges does SJ has in his boot at the 4 week mark ? I have my boot at a 20%angle with all wedges on 🙄 . When I saw the video his boot is a straight 90, and curious to know about the wedges . Thanks 🙏

Hi would you mind to tell me who was ur physiotherapist and surgeon is?

Gotta admit Sj I watch your videos on a weekly timeline to look at the recovery rate as my left Achilles was injured playing basketball after further review from the experts and your self I choose the non surgical recovery 4 weeks in and my concern of course is the tendons growing back long so I do no weight bearing to partial buy now the moon boot the rods on the side I guess are trying to mend my calf to my Achilles but the pain on the calf starts to hurt so I remove the moon boot now catch 22 I was doing some early range of motion ie stretching to early but I would do that to not have the calf stiff as it can get while in the moon walking boot so I'm come across a rock and a hard place with a reality that is both scary and that is not being able to walk again re rupture of the Achilles heal so I guess I'm trying to keep a positive out look on it kinda wish I didn't play basketball and def didn't expect this to happen the injury came out of no wear and I still think to this day some one kicked me or threw a phone at my Achilles but yeah the road to recovery is long espically when you have to go to work luckly I'm off today so I'd give my thoughts on the tear your videos help me track my progress but I'm not sure if I'll ever be the same espically when the leg is connected to your hip it's like one thing after another well cheers mate appericate your videos from a fellow RU-vid Myself

Someone please help. I’m on week 4 (non surgical) they just removed my cast on the week 4 mark and I’m 3 days in. With the boot. And when I stand up I feel like ache pain still. Is this normal? The DR said I’m able to bear partial weight now but I’m nervous because of the pain. Any help would be appreciated thanks

Hi Iv just ruptured my Achilles tendon, Iv got a scan soon to see if I need operation or not, the doctors are all ok with me weight bearing and walking around in a boot even though it’s just happened last week. Any tips on just walking around I’m going to NY next week such a nightmare.

I got my hard cast off last week...I've been doing light stretching...still have swelling, no weight on my foot at all.

@sj did you have a full rupture or partial rupture ?

Slept with a pillow case on my cast/boot. Tied off the top with some ribbon.

At what week did you start to take out wedge #1,2 and 3?

Hi Sj (& everyone else in the community) - I ruptured my Achilles on 20th nov and the public hospital put me in an above knee cast (plan was four weeks of this then 2 weeks of below knee cast then boot), and I got a second opinion privately and they put me in a vacoped boot at 3.5 weeks in & im learning to partial weight bear now. I just wanted to ask, when I take the boot off to clean my foot or change my sock, small movements away from planterflex position can be really painful, like day one of injury pain. Is that normal in your opinion at this point? If so, when does the pain go? I’m basically so scared to take my boot off as moving too far out of planterflex that pain is unreal!

i’m week 4 just got my boot yesterday. do you have any tips for working out the calf muscles to help them regain strength?

In this video (week 4) I only saw one wedge in your boot. Is this correct?

Wait so you had surgery or no?

Hi SJ, I hope you still check the responses on these excellent videos. Question- I just ruptured my achilles and for the first 2 days my doc put me in a boot in 90 degree angle. (To his benefit, I was at that point going for surgery). It wasn't until I discovered your videos that I took some socks and put it in my heel to give some left to get to plantar flex, and have been in that mode (having seen another doctor who put me in a cast with my toes faced downwards). My fear is now that my tendon will have stretched long because of the first 2 days. 2 days where I even walked in the 90 degree angle on/with the boot. Do you think those 2 days will have ruined recovery, or do you think i should be ok? Any response would be apprciated. Much thanks!

Question I feel and put all my weight on my injured boot as well. I had my wedges and all all. But I'm scared I may have hurt it. It was only 2.5 weeks though. It got sore and swollen but I don't think anything else happened. I do have a ball in my tendon. Did that happen to you?

When you do these exercises does the achilles feel really tight?

When you started partial weight bearing how where you able to get leverage to fully extend your leg? I have been working at it for about 4 days now. I have the Evenup but still a big difference in height and unable to fully extend knee as a result. Just teting to determine how to get my weight down on it. Any suggestions? Tou have any issue with this?

What was the spray you bought to keep your boot smelling clean?

Hi SJ, I've been in the process for 4 weeks now and was wondering if you have any research on how long it can take for the tendon to reattach. I've been facing insurance issues here in the states and haven't even had a chance to get my MRI yet due to approval. I've left my foot in plantar flexion, occasionally taking off my boot to let my leg breath when I'm not mobile.

Did you have a full or partial rupture?

Were you able to drive with the evenup on?

How call the blac thing for under shows $ 39 you say I needf

Hi! Im in week 4 and i was wondering do you still fee a gap on ur tendon? Is it normal? Im following the non -op way too

Hello, I’m here at week 3 after a 50% tear. I was wondering how often you went to see your physio as you progressed in your recovery? I have a friends wedding coming up after week 8 for about 5 days and then leave after week 2 for 2 weeks. I’m wondering if I should cancel my leave if seeing a physiotherapist is absolutely necessary or if I can just keep doing everything that I need on my own during the time away? Thanks for your videos and hope to hear fro you.

Hi, I fully ruptured my Tendon 3 weeks ago. My doctor will have me in a cast for 8 weeks. 2 weeks pointing downwards at 45 degrees, 2 weeks at 22.25 degrees and another 2 weeks at 0 (I.e how the foot would be at standing position). What do you think? He then mentioned I’ll be in a boot for another 6-8 weeks when I’m out of the cast.

Hi guys, I'm in week 4 right now and sometimes I feel like a little burning feeling in the achilles. Is that like a normal feeling during the healing time, or do I put to much pressure on it?

Do you think because you had your leg in that 130 degree bend partial cast, that made a huge progress with the healing because the tendon ends we're brought so close.

Hi I am in week 7 but my doc want me start after week 8 and do X-ray after that maybe will start therapy

HI SJ, I completely tore my Achilles on October 27th and I decided to go non-op. I was casted for two weeks and I got into the boot with the heel lifts a few days ago. How often did you take out each heel lift? Also, I'm beginning to partially weight bear but I was wondering, do you think it's possible to rerupture my Achilles by just PWB/trying to walk? Thank you so much for your videos!! They give me a lot of hope

Hi SJ, I am at 7 weeks. Non surgery, right achilles. I have been out of the boot for the last week or so at home. And the absolute worst thing happened today. I was going up the stairs without the boot a little too fast and slipped and fell and re-ruptured. It was a partial re rupture to begin with and now I can feel a hole in the tendon, albeit not as big as the original hole or dent. What are your thoughts? Thanks for the awesome in-debth information.

Did you feel something at the heel of your injured foot when you started weight bearing?

Im am roughly at 4 weeks post. Was in a cast for two weeks and am in my second week with a boot. I have started limited weight bearing and feel I am doing well. Have a question about what I feel in my calf and lower leg. When I take the boot off to wash or simply get some air, I feel calf and leg to see if it feels like its healing. Starting at my calf, i have definitely lost muscle mass. My calves were pretty toned and my injured leg, my calf feels like jello. That sucks, but I'm sure I will get that back. As I move down my leg from my soft calf, I hit a point where the is really no definition to my leg at all. I can feel my skinny leg for a couple of inches. then, where I believe the injury was and toward the back, I feel two bulges. One on either side of my Achilles. It almost feels like muscle. Its not sore or tender even. As compared to my other leg, it is really defined bulges, whereas my good leg is maybe more naturally tapered down to my ankle and Achilles. Continuing to move down I can feel the Achilles that has reconnected and when I go toward 90 degrees I can feel it pull and tighten and I feel it connected. My question was about the bulges...anyone else feel that? Is it the Soleus muscles? Maybe its just from the boot where the air pockets are squeezing my leg a bit. It just feels weird compared to my other leg.