Posts
11
Joined
8/6/2020
Location
Parker, CO
US
Edited Date/Time
5/5/2021 7:36am
I completely tore both Achilles 12 weeks ago coming up short on a triple. I had surgery on both and am now walking and doing PT. My questions are: 1) How long before you are able to ride again (trail or Moto)? 2) Is there any good ankle braces that can be worn in a boot? I was wearing Sidi SR2 when I tore them, but I also have a pair of SG12s.
This brace was as good as I could find for actual Achilles stability and being somewhat low profile
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TZTO0TO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asi…
The Shop
After 3 months I was walking very gingerly, after 6 months they released me for most everything. I still really took it easy, only recently getting back on the bike with even a hint of aggression. Still don't have the full range of motion, but it suffices. For reference I'll be 50 in a week.
I was wearing SG10 boots at the time, and I'll be picking up some SIDI Atojo boots soon, as they have stops to help prevent hyper extension in both dorsi and plantar directions. Can't decide if I want the ankle saver pegs.
Return to Moto time frame should be about 5months if you had one. Both might be a bit longer. Conservatively say 6.
As for ankle braces. That's not going to help support your Achilles tendons. Your better off initially with maybe some rigid taping or maybe the kinesio taping pending on whose doing it and their technique for the taping job.
Fyi no boot or peg is gonna stop that sort of injury either. Its technique on the bike. Placement of your foot on the peg. And your tendon strength from your off bike training program.
There should / will be lots of eccentric loading exercises in your future rehab and training prep.
Good luck mate.
Thanks for the advise. I usually switch between Sidis and SG12s depending on what I am riding. Not sure if one is better. I am still out on if I want the ankle saver pegs too. I hope to get most of my range of motion back, so far it seems to be looking good. BTW I am 48. Guess triples will be double, single!!
Thanks for the input. I was hoping 6 months based on how things are going currently. Start off on a MTB then move to Moto. I was pretty sure no boot or peg would have prevented injury, if anything the load would have been transferred to another joint or bone.
I will also check your IG for some traditional info.
Thanks again.
Yeah road cycle or stationary cycle initially to reduce crash risk. then MTB and Moto for sure!
I still can't do a complete heel raise but I can get it about half way up, I also have a lot of swelling every day. I still do calf workouts and road cycle quite a bit. I was told it varies a lot on recovery and mine seems to be taking forever but then again I'm 52. I started riding at 8 months and it was pretty sketchy. Kinesiology tape definitely seemed to help me. Good luck. It's been the biggest PIA injury I've ever had.
Good Luck
Pit Row
Time is your friend. Advanced rehab protocols are not.
Ankle-saver type pegs are a great idea.
KT tape won’t do a fucking thing to help you, unless you develop a little tendinosis later.
I'm 40 and in pretty good shape. Also, is there any way to maintain some sort of fitness while incapacitated? Thanks.
Good Luck!
Complication could be, tripping over whilst using the crutches on day 2 damaging the achillies repair, then contracting a staff infection at the hospital as they scan the tendon for damage, spending six weeks and six surgeries in hospital to clean the area and repair the tendon, skin graft, 6 months waiting for the big gaping wound to heal.
15 weeks off work, at one stage they said I might lose my lower leg or foot.
Not the norm, but these things can happen.
If you're active, get it fixed surgically.
My timeline has gone like this (My PT went very conservatively, better chance of getting back to 100% some day).
-6wk non weight bearing on knee scooter
-6wk walking in boot with slowing decreasing heel height (Get a shoe lift for the other side, your hips will thank you)
-4wk walking in shoes 100% of the time with a heel lift in them
At 16wk I was allowed to walk barefoot again. Nothing explosive and no jumping until the 6mo post op mark.
I started PT at 4wk post op and I've done everything he's said to a T. The most important thing is to not stretch the tendon too quickly, its very fragile after it gets fixed.
I did everything I could to maintain fitness, I just did normal lifting at the gym, and did a ton of spin biking. If you google "Crossfit Achilles" a few of the big name athletes have gone through this and they have posted tons of creative videos how to workout while recovering.
I should be back on a moto bike in a week or two (Im waiting on parts now), there's no way around the fact that its a shitty shitty injury and takes a long time to heal. Take your time with recovery and you'll be ok.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
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