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Achilles Tendon Repair Physiotherapy in Singapore

An Achilles tendon repair has to heal at the right length, so rehabilitation protects it in a boot with heel wedges, adds weight in stages, and then spends months rebuilding a calf that is usually still weaker a year later. Tests of calf strength, rather than the calendar, should decide when you run and play. Benchmark Physio guides every stage, from the first boot weeks to return to sport, at our Bukit Timah clinic and at home across Singapore.

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APA Titled expertise
One-to-one sessions
Clinic in Bukit Timah, home visits across Singapore
Direct billing with selected insurers

Reviewed by Ng Hong Kai, Chief Physiotherapist. Last reviewed October 2026.

Achilles tendon repair rehabilitation at a glance

Boot and wedges: A boot or cast with wedges for about 6 weeks in SGH's advice, then weaned over several more weeks.
Weight on the foot: From none for 2 to 3 weeks to partial weight in stages, depending on the protocol.
Calf strength: A deficit of about 30% is commonly reported after repair, so strength work runs for months.
Return to sport: 80% returned in a review of 6,506 patients, and 77% at a mean of 8.1 months after surgery in another.
Re-rupture: 2.3% after surgery and 3.9% without surgery in a BMJ meta-analysis.
Clinic: Benchmark Physio, 557 Bukit Timah Road, #02-03, Crown Centre, Singapore 269694
Fees: You pay $210 for a 45-minute clinic session or $320 for a home visit. The fees page covers anything else.
Booking: Book online or WhatsApp +65 8836 8526.

What makes Achilles repair rehabilitation different?

An Achilles tendon repair joins the torn ends so that the tendon can heal, and the length it heals at decides how well the calf pushes off. A tendon that heals long is weak, and one that is loaded too soon can stretch or tear again. Rehabilitation therefore protects the repair in a boot with heel wedges, brings weight on in stages, and then rebuilds calf strength for months.

Calf strength is the lasting problem. A deficit of about 30% is commonly reported after repair (cluster analysis), and a review of long-term studies describes calf performance deficits that remain years after the rupture.

Our post-surgery physiotherapy page sets out the general stages of recovery and the warning signs. This page covers the Achilles.

Does surgery or non-surgical treatment give a better result?

Surgery lowers the risk of a second rupture slightly and raises the risk of complications. In a BMJ meta-analysis of nearly 16,000 patients, re-rupture was 2.3% after surgery and 3.9% without it, while complications were 4.9% after surgery and 1.6% without, with infection the commonest after surgery. Early range-of-movement exercise and early weight-bearing did not increase re-rupture (Ochen and others, 2019).

This page is about rehabilitation after a repair. If you have not yet chosen, your surgeon can explain which suits your age and activity.

How do protocols differ on weight, boot and wedges?

They differ more than most people expect. SGH advises a cast or boot with wedges at all times for the first six weeks, while other protocols allow partial weight from week two or three, remove wedges in stages and take the boot off anywhere between about seven and fourteen weeks.

How four Achilles repair protocols differ
Protocol	Weight on the foot	Boot and wedges
Singapore General Hospital	The advice covers the first 6 weeks, with a cast or boot worn at all times.	Wedges stay in for the first 6 weeks. Return to sport is discussed with your physiotherapist from 6 to 12 weeks.
Massachusetts General Hospital	No weight for weeks 0 to 3, then partial weight from week 4, in steps of 25%.	Wedge weaning from week 5 and the last wedge off by week 7. Boot-free walking at 7 to 8 weeks.
University of Kansas Health System (mini-open repair)	Splint and no weight for 2 weeks, then partial weight rising 25% a week, with full weight by weeks 4 to 6.	A boot with a lift from week 2, and the wedges come out in stages after that.
ONS protocol, 2025	No weight for weeks 0 to 3, then weight as tolerated in the boot.	Wedges in the boot from week 3, and the boot weaned over weeks 10 to 14.

The details come from SGH, Massachusetts General, the University of Kansas and ONS. The spread is part of the reason your own surgeon's protocol matters more than any table: early weight-bearing did not raise the re-rupture rate in the BMJ meta-analysis, so stricter is not shown to be safer.

Achilles tendon repair recovery: what to expect by week

A common pattern is a boot with wedges for about six weeks, walking in shoes by about three months, strength work through the middle months, and a return to running and sport from about six to nine months. The table combines the Singapore advice with US protocols, which differ.

Typical timeline after Achilles tendon repair
Time since surgery	Boot and weight	Exercise	Everyday life
0 to 2 weeks	Cast, splint or boot with wedges. Little or no weight on the foot.	Toe movement, and hip and knee exercises on the same leg as allowed.	Crutches or a knee scooter. Keep the leg raised to settle swelling.
2 to 6 weeks	Boot with wedges. Weight comes on in stages in most protocols.	Gentle ankle movement within the limits your surgeon sets.	Wear a supportive shoe of matching height on the other foot.
6 to 12 weeks	Wedges come out in stages and the boot comes off, at about 7 to 14 weeks depending on the protocol.	Walking in shoes, calf raises on both feet and balance work.	Driving depends on which foot was repaired.
3 to 6 months	Normal walking in shoes.	Single-leg heel raises, from about 16 weeks in one protocol, then strength, hopping and running preparation.	Back to work, and gentle sport once cleared.
6 to 12 months	Walking and stairs feel normal.	Running from about 6 months and full sport from about 9 months in many protocols, with calf strength tests deciding.	Swelling can last for up to a year.

Sources include SGH, Massachusetts General, Kansas, ONS and the Royal Devon NHS leaflet.

Why is the calf still weak, and how do we test it?

A calf deficit of about 30% is commonly reported after Achilles repair, and the tendon usually heals slightly longer than before, which weakens the push-off. The single-leg heel rise is the simplest test: how many you can do, how high you rise, and how that compares with the other side.

A scoping review of return-to-sport criteria after repair found that studies most often cleared patients on time since surgery (53%), followed by ankle movement (47%), the Achilles Tendon Rupture Score (47%), calf circumference (44%) and the heel-rise test (44%).

Early recovery is worth watching. The Achilles Tendon Rupture Score at three months has been shown to predict return to sport a year later, and in one cluster analysis the patients who started rehabilitation immediately tended to manage more single-leg heel raises at 12 weeks than those on traditional rehabilitation.

What we measure

Single-leg heel rise: the number of repetitions, and the height, against the other side.
Ankle movement, especially upward bend, as the tendon lengthens.
Calf circumference, as a rough guide to muscle bulk.
The Achilles Tendon Rupture Score questionnaire.
Hopping and running mechanics, before any return to sport.

Everyday life in the boot: driving, shoes and stairs

Life in the boot is about balance, footwear and driving. Most cars in Singapore are automatic, so driving depends on which foot was repaired: one US protocol allows driving earlier after a left-foot repair and says to wait almost three months for the right foot (ONS).

Wear a supportive shoe on the other foot. The boot raises the leg and strains the hip and back, and slippers do not even it up.
On stairs, go up with the good leg and down with the boot and crutches together.
Keep the cast or boot dry in the shower, with a waterproof cover, and sit on a stool.
On crowded trains and buses, ask for a seat rather than standing on one leg.
Check your insurer's rules before you drive, as well as your surgeon's advice.

When can you run and return to sport after Achilles repair?

Most people return to sport, but not always quickly or at their old level. A meta-analysis of 108 studies and 6,506 patients found that 80% returned to play (Zellers and others, 2016), and a review of surgical repairs found that 77% returned, at a mean of 8.1 months.

The range is wide. Across 24 studies of return to sport after surgical repair, 65% to 100% returned between 3 and 13.4 months. Reports suggest that only about half of patients return to play within a year, and the figures depend on how return to play is measured.

Running and jumping sports such as basketball, football and tennis are the ones most linked to these injuries. Badminton and futsal, which are popular in Singapore, ask just as much of the calf, so expect the longer end of these ranges and let calf tests, rather than the date, clear you.

Re-rupture and complications

Re-rupture is uncommon after repair: 2.3% in the BMJ meta-analysis, and between 0% and 5.74% across 24 studies of return to sport. Complications are commoner after surgery, at 4.9% against 1.6% without it, and wound infection is the most frequent.

What to watch for

A sudden pop, sharp pain or loss of push-off, often during a stumble or a sprint start: tell your surgeon at once.
A wound that is red, hot, leaking or opening: contact your surgeon the same day.
Numbness along the outer edge of the foot or heel: mention it, because a nearby nerve can be affected.
Calf pain, swelling or warmth: see the warning signs on our post-surgery page.

How we run Achilles repair rehabilitation at Benchmark Physio

We start from your operation note, protect the length of the repair, and test the calf before we release you to run and play.

We start from your operation note

Your note tells us the repair technique and your surgeon's rules on weight, wedges and the boot. We agree which steps come when.

We protect the length first

While the boot is on, we keep the rest of the leg, the hip and the core working, and teach you how to walk, climb stairs and travel without loading the repair.

We test the calf

Before the boot comes off and before running, we measure single-leg heel rises and ankle movement against the other side, and we repeat the checks where a result falls short.

Home visits suit the boot weeks

A home visit ($320 for 45 minutes) spares you the commute on crutches. Clinic sessions ($210) and online check-ins ($100 for 30 minutes) fit around it. The fees and insurance section of the post-surgery page names our direct billing partners.

Our lead physiotherapist holds APA Titled status and trained as an Exercise Scientist, so heel-rise testing and graded calf loading are routine for us.

Frequently asked questions about Achilles tendon repair rehabilitation

How long does it take to recover from Achilles tendon repair?

Most people spend about six weeks in a boot or cast with wedges, walk in shoes by about three months, and run from about six months, with full sport from about nine. In a review of surgical repairs, 77% returned to sport at a mean of 8.1 months, and calf strength can take longer to recover than the tendon. The general stages of recovery after surgery are on our post-surgery physiotherapy page.

How long will I be in a boot, and when can I put weight on my foot?

Singapore General Hospital advises a cast or a boot with wedges at all times for the first six weeks. Other protocols allow no weight for two or three weeks, then partial weight in stages, and take the boot off between about seven and fourteen weeks. Follow your surgeon's protocol, because early weight-bearing did not increase re-rupture in a BMJ meta-analysis.

When can I drive after Achilles tendon repair?

It depends on which foot was repaired. One US protocol allows driving earlier after a left-foot repair and says to wait almost three months for the right foot. Most cars in Singapore are automatic, so the right foot matters most. Your surgeon should confirm, and you should check your insurer's rules.

Should I have surgery or non-surgical treatment for a ruptured Achilles tendon?

The difference is small. In a BMJ meta-analysis of nearly 16,000 patients, re-rupture was 2.3% after surgery and 3.9% without it, while complications were 4.9% and 1.6%. Early range-of-movement exercise and early weight-bearing did not increase re-rupture. Your surgeon can explain which suits your age and activity.

Can my Achilles tendon rupture again after repair?

Yes, but it is uncommon: 2.3% in the BMJ meta-analysis, and between 0% and 5.74% across 24 studies of return to sport. A sudden pop, sharp pain or loss of push-off, often during a stumble or a sprint start, needs your surgeon's attention at once.

Why is my calf still weak and thin after Achilles repair?

A calf strength deficit of about 30% is commonly reported after repair, and a review of long-term studies describes calf deficits that persist for years. The tendon usually heals a little longer than before, which weakens the push-off, and the calf muscle shrinks while you are in the boot. Progressive heel-raise training, measured against the other side, is how we close the gap.

When can I run, and when can I play badminton or football after Achilles repair?

Many protocols allow running from about six months and full sport from about nine, once calf strength tests agree. In a meta-analysis of 6,506 patients, 80% returned to play, and reports suggest about half do so within a year. Badminton and football ask a lot of the calf, so expect the longer end of the range.

What tests do I need to pass before returning to sport after Achilles repair?

No single standard exists. A scoping review found that studies most often used time since surgery (53%), ankle movement (47%), the Achilles Tendon Rupture Score (47%), calf circumference (44%) and the heel-rise test (44%). We add single-leg heel-rise repetitions and height against the other side, plus hopping and running checks, so that readiness rests on measurements.

Book your Achilles repair rehabilitation assessment

Tell us your surgery date and the boot, weight and wedge rules you were given. We will tell you where you are in the recovery and what comes next.

Book an appointment WhatsApp us

Benchmark Physio, 557 Bukit Timah Road, #02-03, Crown Centre, Singapore 269694

Call or WhatsApp +65 8836 8526. Email info@benchmarkphysio.com. Get directions.

Tuesday and Thursday 11am to 8pm. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9am to 6pm. Closed on Monday and Sunday.

Sources

The ranges and figures on this page come from the studies, hospital guidance and protocols below. Protocols differ between surgeons and hospitals, so your own instructions take priority. Last reviewed October 2026.

Meet Our Physiotherapist

Ng Hong Kai also provides dedicated post-surgery rehab programs. With his in-depth understanding of anatomy and surgical procedures, he helps clients recover safely and effectively after operations like joint replacements, ACL reconstruction, and rotator cuff repair. His hands-on physiotherapy approach addresses range of motion, strength, and function to facilitate healing and achieve optimal outcomes.

Ready to embark on a journey towards better musculoskeletal health free from pain? Schedule your consultation with us today.