Achilles Repair: Early Protection & Reconditioning (Weeks 0–4)

Early Achilles surgery recovery should focus on protection, not progression. This structured program guides Weeks 0–4 safely under surgical constraints.

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What to Do in the First 4 Weeks After Achilles Surgery

The first four weeks after Achilles tendon repair are about protection — not performance.

During this phase, the surgical repair is at its most vulnerable. The tendon is healing, but its tensile strength is still limited. The goal is to avoid unnecessary stress, elongation, or setbacks while maintaining circulation, joint mobility (within limits), and whole-body conditioning.

In this early stage, you should:

Follow strict weight-bearing guidelines
Avoid stretching past neutral dorsiflexion
Keep the boot on for walking and daily mobility
Maintain upper body and proximal strength safely
Introduce only controlled, low-level calf activation when appropriate

This program provides structure for that process — without exceeding surgical boundaries.

Protecting the Repair Without Losing Strength

Recovery does not mean complete inactivity.

While the Achilles must be protected, the rest of your body can and should continue training. Maintaining strength in the hips, quads, hamstrings, trunk, and upper body helps preserve overall conditioning and reduces deconditioning during immobilisation.

This program focuses on:

Non-weight bearing and supported lower-limb strength
DNS-informed trunk stability (without distal load)
Controlled isometric calf activation
Circulatory and neuromuscular work

You remain active — without placing unnecessary strain on the healing tendon.

What This Program Includes

This 4-week phase includes structured sessions designed to respect surgical constraints while keeping you engaged in training.

Inside the program you’ll find:

Clearly named sessions with defined purpose
Safe lower-limb strength progressions
Boot-aware movement guidelines
Controlled calf activation within approved range
Built-in checklists to guide progression or flag review
Clear guardrails for pain, swelling, and load response

It does not include running, jumping, plyometrics, deep stretching, or aggressive calf strengthening.

This is a protection phase — deliberately structured.

Who This Early Achilles Rehab Is For

This program is appropriate for:

Individuals in the first four weeks after surgical Achilles tendon repair
Patients following a surgeon-directed accelerated protocol
Those cleared for structured movement but still under weight-bearing restrictions
Athletes who want clarity during early recovery

This program is not appropriate for:

Non-surgical Achilles tendinopathy
Late-stage rehab or return-to-running phases
Individuals without medical clearance

It is designed to complement — not replace — guidance from your surgeon or physiotherapist.

When to Progress to the Next Phase

Progression is not based on motivation — it is based on tissue response.

You are ready to move beyond this phase when:

Swelling is stable
Pain remains low and predictable
You tolerate prescribed loading without next-day flare
Weight-bearing milestones are met under medical guidance

Ideally, this transition should coincide with review by your physiotherapist.

The next phase introduces controlled concentric and eccentric loading under stricter parameters — but only when appropriate.