Running again; April 18, 2011; 10 Months Post-Surgery

After 10 months of being cautious about a possible rerupture, I can finally get on a treadmill and run at a decent speed again with confidence.  Here’s my exact workout 10 months out and my goal workout 12 months out:

10 months:

Duration: 45 minutes

Stretch/warm up = 5 minutes; Walk treadmill at 4.0 = 2 minutes; Run treadmill at 6.0 = 5 minutes; Repeat walk/run intervals same speeds until I get to 30 minute total treadmill workout.

Boxing = 10 minutes; I hit the bag for 2 minutes at a time going hard with short breaks to get that feeling of breathing heavy again

Lifting = Limited on cardio days, typically work in pullups, push ups, sit ups and step ups

12 month goal:

Duration: 1 hour

Stretch/warm up = 5 minutes; Run treadmill for 30 minutes straight at 8.0

Boxing = 20 minutes

Light Lifting = Pullups, push ups, sit ups and step ups

* Heavy Lifting = Sub for boxing with bench, squat, clean, box jump (the workout pre-surgery)

Week 12: Walking again, another visit to the surgeon

It’s August 3rd, I’m 3 months out from surgery, and I’m walking 3/4 of a mile and stationary biking up to 25 minutes.

Despite the increase in strength, my scar is still sticking to my tendon about 4 inches up from my heel.  If the scar does not fully separate from the tendon I’ll have to get another surgery in 3 months.

Week 7: Down to One Crutch, Neutral Dorsiflexion

Finish Line PT is getting the job done.  I can bike for 20 minutes now – last week I could only do 10.  Biking with the boot is awkward because you can’t fit the pedal strap over the boot, so you basically just have to push with the heel of the boot and then strap in the other foot normally.  Either way, just moving the legs again for the first time in 2 months is a great feeling.

I’m now able to walk with one crutch, and getting up and down stairs much easier.  People at work don’t have to carry my stuff to meetings which is uplifting.  I’m hoping that the next PT session Tuesday shows more results.  This week my trainer wants to see my dorsiflexion go past neutral (image below).  If you were to point your toes to the ground and then lift your foot, your foot will be perpendicular to the ground in a dorsiflexion neutral position.  Going past neutral requires the strength in the achilles to pull the foot closer to the ankle…that’s the goal.

Dorsiflexion neutral

Week 6: Finish Line Physical Therapy, New York, NY

With state of the art equipment, young trainers, and a list of patients that range from rec warriors to triathletes, Finish Line (located on West 23rd between 6th and 7th ave) gives you the feeling that you’re in the right place.  On June 10th, I hobbled in and was greeted by Andy, who took my insurance and showed me the facility.  The first thing I noticed was that it was clean and the machines were new, a great first impression.  Check out the website below:

http://fle.wcds.net/index.html

My trainer Brynn knows what she’s doing.  I know this because I’m seeing results.  By my second session on June 15th, she had me on the stationary bike going faster and using more force than ever before.  We worked on isometrics, where she applied more force to my foot than had been applied in previous weeks by my first trainer, and I was able to push back against that force with greater strength and mobility.

Most importantly, by the end of the second session I started full weight bearing in my boot, meaning that I could put all my weight down through my right heel as I walked, while still using crutches for balance.  This is exactly where I’m supposed to be according to the protocol my surgeon issued.  Some people will disagree with me, saying this is too conservative (see comments to the right), but I don’t think I’d feel comfortable going any faster.  We’re on a good pace.

FIFA WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html?cid=google_onebox

Also, check out these notable sports injuries that will be preventing star players from playing in World Cup 2010.  Ironically, one of them is a full achilles rupture – David Beckham.

http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2010/06/10/the-missing-world-cup-xi/

Week 5: Second PT Session, June 1

While Steph (physical therapist) wasn’t looking, I took a picture of my progress chart.  The chart is loaded with symbols and acronyms and I am waiting on a response from Steph with a full translation.  This cryptic PT jargon has my head spinning.

The rest of the session was the same as my first – scar mobilization, ankle stretches, ice -except for two major differences. (1) I began PWB (partial weight bearing) at 30 percent of my body weight (56 lbs of pressure) in my walking boot.  Putting weight down was a humbling feeling. (2) I began isometric exercises using applied force from a second party (in this case Steph) in four directions – pushing down with my foot against force, pulling up with my foot against force (hardest, because it requires most tension on the tendon), inversion and eversion.

Week 4: First PT session, May 28th

My fist PT session was at a small clinic in Cranford, NJ.  After a $30 co-pay and finding out that I get 50 sessions per year under my insurance plan (Not nearly enough, I’ll likely pay out of pocket to complete the PT), I met Stephanie, my physical therapist.  She was not interested in being filmed for the blog, so I took a bunch of photos from the office.  The first day was very basic.  Stephanie took measurements to see what kind of progress I had made in my exercises at home.  I still had some catching up to do.

Protocol May 28th

1) Wet Heat Wrap, 10 Minutes

2) Gentle scar mobilization, Ankle Pump, Inversion / Eversion exercises (video to come), Ankle Curl Circumduction, Measurements for range of motion taken with force applied

3) Ice Wrap, 5 Minutes (This helped, as ankle was swollen that day)