Cycling after Ruptured Achilles Tendon
 

Today I was in surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon (work-related, not from cycling). Needless to say my 2014 riding season is pretty much over. I was diagnosed at a sports medicine center and my doctor said I could start to cycle on a stationary bike as part of my physical therapy after I get my cast off in about eight to twelve weeks. He said it's possible to be back on a bike after six months but probably not endurance cycling that soon like I do with my club. I don't want to take any chances so I wanted to start cycling again in the spring of '15.

My problem is I'm scared to death that something like this will happen again and/or I'll never be able to ride a bike. I know I'm probably just being paranoid and I've been told by my doctor and others that this has happened to many sports stars such as basketball players for example and were back on the court after six months.

I'm 53 years of age but definitely not in a hurry to get back on a bike as I want to heal the right way, so I'm looking for any type of training/exercise that would be of the best benefit for me. Cycling and weight/resistance training are my only activities. I don't run or jog as that activity has always been hard on my knees.

Sorry for the rambling post but any advice from experienced cyclists here would be greatly appreciated.

I tore (micro tears) both my Achilles in 2002. Fortunately it happened toward the end of the season, and I didn't really get back into cycling again for about 6 months. And I had to wear braces for a long time. I still wear braces on long, hilly rides.

I tried to get back into it earlier, but that just created a setback ... made things worse.

Talk to your doctor about walking/jogging. Somehow I don't think that would be a good idea either.

While I was recovering, I focused on the upper body ... weight lifting and core work.


Are you seeing a physiotherapist?

Both of those activities will tend to tighten muscles, joints, tendons and so on... I think you need to add a flexibility routine -- but with caution that it does not overstress your repaired tendon. Your upcoming PT would be a good place to start that and build an ongoing routine. Too often, PT is used to simply fix a problem then it is forgotten. It is better to use it build an ongoing routine that you can continue after your discharge from PT. But, you will probably have to push the therapist to get him to develop such a program for you. If he is using machines that you do not have access to, then it will be 6 weeks of therapy and then nothing...

At 53 you are getting to the point where people often transition from young and fit into older and stiff. But that is not so much a function of aging as it is a result of improper conditioning (or the lack of...) Essentially, your body need 3 things to keep it functioning at optimal levels:
-- Aerobic / cardio-pulmonary training
-- Strength training -- including Core Training as well as the traditional weight/resistance training
-- Flexibility

The last is often overlooked by men in their quest for performance. But, things such as yoga or Pilates, or even just a structured, well managed stretching program (not just a warm-up for other exercises) will pay benefits as you age.

It has been said that a stretching program will never be able to increase flexibility, but it can help to maintain what you have. I don't know if that is true or not. But I am sure that it is common -- because most stretching programs are pretty wimpy and are mainly just used as warm ups for the 'real' exercise.

Also, statins have been shown to generate a 20% increase in musculo-skeletal injuries (such as yours). If you take one of them, you need to be extra vigilant to maintain your flexibility.

Thank you for the responses. No I'm not seeing a physiotherapist yet as I just had the surgery yesterday. Actually my goal is just to get back on a bike at all. Unfortunately where I live is the hilliest city in the Midwest but even sticking with bike paths, rail-trails and grocery shopping would make me happy. Fixed-gear riding is probably out, too, but I've already had my fun with that so I won't miss it too much.

Interesting about wearing braces for long hilly rides. I'll have to ask my doctor and PT about that when I get closer to starting therapy. I will also ask about walking if that helps. I am a gym member so I will check them, too. My gym has helped my wife tremendously with strengthening her foot/leg after about a dozen surgical procedures on it and she doesn't have near the problems she used to have.

If you live in a very hilly area, you'll want to check your saddle height. It might be all right already, but for hills, the saddle should be slightly lower than what it might be if you lived in a flat area. Easier on the Achilles that way.

You said you ruptured your Achilles, but that it had to be diagnosed. When I did mine, I didn't need a diagnosis. My foot just flopped on the end of my leg. I also had a surgical repair, that day. My cast was on 8 weeks. When I got it off, I rehabbed by hiking. That's my suggestion if it's possible. It was important to break up the scar tissue by moving the foot in all directions in a gentle fashion, for which hiking in the mountains was perfect. I rehabbed for cycling by doing one-legged pedaling on my rollers. Again, that's gentle exercise that stresses the lower leg in many directions. This happened in my mid-forties. My calf took over a year to get back to where it was. I've never had another problem with it, though now I'm more careful about my foot placement when running. I don't think cycling will bother it at all if your surgeon did a good job. There's just not much stress on it when cycling. RSI yes, but not the high stress that ruptures something like that.

Good luck on your recovery! Make sure you get plenty of raw materials in your diet - protein, collagen, gelatine, etc. I also have achelies issues - mine reach max length when my foot is still flexed downwards 45 degrees. I still cycle!

M.

I injured my Achilles when I started running. research lead me to cycling as a good recovery sport. you are protective of your body. that;'s normal self preservation. after my knee surgery it was 11 years before I started going at it again. knowledge is power. you'll heal, be patient. try swimming, it's weird but makes you feel amazing!