Some doubts leave me, replaced by new ones
(Feb 16th-22nd: 3 mins read)
TL;DR:
– Able to stand barefoot first thing
– A really hard rehab unit
– I get behind the wheel again
Milestones (& significant events)
| WK18 | Milestone / Significant Event |
|---|---|
| D-1 | Can stand up straight after getting out of bed Stationary bike load upped to 150W About 15k steps + cardio -> no pain, no swelling |
| D-2 | Put my shorts on, free-standing Did my first complete (baby) boulder |
| D-3 | Now wearing my (flat!) anti-static shoes at work |
| D-4 | End of month 4 |
| D-5 | |
| D-6 | A really hard rehab sessions – did I overstep a limit? |
| D-7 | On the road again – back behind the wheel! Approx 8k steps / day average |
< Note: For a start-to-finish list of milestones click <here> >.
Physical health (& progressions)
A summary of this week’s physical stuff with various metrics to monitor progress.
Body statistics / metrics
Weight: 68.4kg / lbs
Calf size: 34.5cm (morning)
Knees-toes: 8cm (warmed-up)
Elongation: all good
Single leg load: –
Double leg deficit: –
< Note: decided the knees-to-toes measurement simply needs to be done at a time when the tendon is warm … no point in associating a time with it, because the time of day seems to be irrelevant. Actually, perhaps it makes sense to do a cold/first thing as constant reference and then a warmed-up one too … >
Physio drills / weights / reps / etc.
Ankle Mobility (stage 2): .
Consistency: .
Ankle Strengthening (stage 2): .
Consistency: .
Lower Body Strengthening (stage 2): .
Consistency: .
Real-world movement / exercise
Walking: 15 mins on the treadmill contributed to the 13.5k step count on Monday, probs around 15k actual step count.
Cycling: Stationary bike load upped from 120W to 150W … wondering if that was too big a jump, even if it seems small compared to what I typically do on my ‘real’ bike, as the tendon was a bit sore on Monday evening (1/10), but it was gone next day. I cut Wednesday’s session short at 20 mins … something didn’t feel right; had felt the lower leg getting tired already just on the walk to the physio practice, then had some pains on the outside towards/around the ankle, so broke off at 20 mins.
(Note: see here for benefits of low load cycling for Achilles rehab)
Climbing: Bouldering on Tuesday: did a first complete ‘baby’ route; am slowly going at the more difficult routes but sticking steadfastly to not using the foot-in-boot AT ALL, maximum the knee – everything that is then not possible … well, it’s not possible.
Mental Health (& daily happenings)
Monday: today was a lot of walking – hit 15k steps. My partner was busy with our granddaughter, I was late too, so I skipped coffee at her place and walked the whole way to the station; did the way back in one too (still with crutches). Then there was the local physio appointment … did that without crutches, and at a nice pace too!
Tuesday: loooong feedback for Chris @ Achilles.Rebuild …
Wednesday: heart-rendering reddit post; youngest son’s soldering skills; stationary bike session cut short to 20mins; way to work steps incl asymmetry.
Thursday: getting used to new PT exercises; lots of redditing; problems at work; snow is back, with accompanying slippery paths.
Saturday: wondering if I overstepped a limit? Probably first really hard rehab session with low-level pain afterwards, a single stab in the calf but can’t quite place the location, probably just above the injury; resort to crutches for the 60th birthday party – “Are you still using those crutches … ?!”.
Sunday: had a relaxed Sunday morning; completed a full 2er boulder route, climbing up to the top … an easy ladder, so risk is as low as it could ever be; I ponder the values of not being able to properly boulder; one hour standing in the car park talking to one of the young ladies from my Tuesday/Sunday boulder group; one of my sons introduced me to the idea of “crab mentality”.
My thoughts on the coming Week 19
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Future-Sol’s reflections (< to come >)
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Achilles Rupture Recovery 
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