Weightlifting 12 weeks after achilles repair.

[mildbrandd]

I am 12 weeks out from an Achilles repair (more details below). I also aspire to become a national level Masters weightlifter with at least a 300 kilo total in the next couple years. I am in the Marines so my physical therapy and treatment is limited to Navy Medicine (the worst treatments in the world). I have seen several therapists within the Navy however, and every one of them disagrees on when I can return to high bar squatting and with what weights. I realize that I am probably still a few months from any sort of triple extension stuff... but why the hell should I be told I can't squat? I use weightlifting shoes and my mobility is actually greater in my injured leg than in my healthy leg. Here are some gems I have been told... (All quotes are from Navy Medicine Therapists) "Squat all the weight you want, as long as you don't go below parallel and keep your toes pointed forward." "You shouldn't squat at all until you are six months out of surgery." "Goblet squat up to 30 pounds in 3X10's." See below for more details.

- Age, Gender, current training status: 31, Male, 10+ years competitive raw powerlifting, 1 year competitive krawsfet, 1 year competitive weightlifting

- Chief Complaint: Lack of consistency (or complete ignorance) in information regarding high bar squatting during rehab.

- Narrative describing the mechanism of injury: I was performing high rep box jumps in a Crossfit Competition, pogo style, when my achilles tore. Surgery was 10 days later. Surgeon said it was 99 percent gone. Tear was mid achilles.

- Pain (on a scale of 1-10): 1 sometimes when I walk

- Describe the pain: burning

- What makes it better? exercise

- What makes it worse? not moving

- How do your symptoms behave throughout the day? no variation

- Signs and Symptoms: There is still large scar tissue bubble visible at the point of repair

Thanks for your help.

[Mark Rippetoe]

What is your question?

[mildbrandd]

Sorry, I guess I forgot to include the question... Would returning to squatting be harmful at this time (12 weeks post surgery)?

[Mark Rippetoe]

I squatted on mine while I was in the boot. I don't think you'll be doing the 2 lifts anytime soon, but you can squat if you keep your shin fairly vertical. And you are about to discover the biomechanical function of the gastroc in the squat and pull.

[mildbrandd]

So I guess a low bar squat would be far better than a high bar squat when trying to keep the shin vertical. Thanks for the help.

[Will Morris]

I squatted on mine while I was in the boot. I don't think you'll be doing the 2 lifts anytime soon, but you can squat if you keep your shin fairly vertical. And you are about to discover the biomechanical function of the gastroc in the squat and pull.

Might be worth squatting in the interim with chucks on rather than weightlifting shoes. Maybe the heel will put some passive tension in the gastroc, and we might want to minimize that. Might also help keep his shins more vertical....what do you think?

[Mark Rippetoe]

The tension on the Achilles in the squat is not passive, by any means. This is why I said that you have to experience this particular defect before you can fully appreciate whet the calf does in a squat. I'd stay with the heel for a while, anyway.