Update on my torn quad tendon

bfsailor · May 5, 2016

It is now 13 weeks since my injury.
Saw the orthopedic doc yesterday and it's all good. He said I've improved a lot since he saw me 2 months ago, and I probably don't need to see him again as long as it doesn't start hurting any more! Yay!
He told me to keep up with my physical therapy and I can probably get back to running in about another 3 months. Yay again! I told him I did a 3-mile walk last weekend and it didn't bother me at all, so he said I could walk as much as I want as long as it doesn't cause any pain.
So it's still slow going, but definitely making progress!
Physical therapy sessions now include leg presses, leg raises with 4 lb. ankle weights, and 15 minutes on an elliptical. Pretty good considering that about 5 weeks ago I was having trouble walking up a flight of stairs without pain.

And the best part is that I do all my therapy barefoot - don't even take shoes with me. I think most of the staff there know I'm a barefoot runner, but no one has ever said anything to me about it.

dutchie53 · May 6, 2016

Glad to hear you're on the mend. Sounds similar to what I'm going through after bilateral total knee replacement. Just a quick question, how long before the quads no longer feel like steel cables and are actually able to stretch again?

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bfsailor · May 6, 2016

Actually I didn't have that problem. I didn't have surgery even though the tendon was partially torn, and since about 4 days after it happened I've been seeing the physical therapist. Their treatment early on was nothing but stretching exercises - quads, hamstrings, and calf stretches. Also some time on a stationary bike. So I was staying pretty flexible, just had no strength in the knee at all. It was almost 8 weeks before I starting any strengthening exercises - leg presses, etc.