When Can You Return to Sports After Achilles Tendon Repair Surgery?

nickwessling
Nov 29, 2025
3 min read

By Nicholas A. Wessling, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon – Foot & Ankle / Sports Medicine

New York City

Introduction

After Achilles tendon repair, patients often ask:

“When can I get back to golf? How long before I can play tennis or go for a run?”

These are the right questions — and the answers depend on your healing timeline and the physical demands of each sport. While every recovery is individualized, the following guide outlines safe exercise and sport progression after surgery, from early rehab through full return to play.

0–6 Weeks: Healing and Protection Phase

Goals: Protect the repair, control swelling, and maintain general fitness.

Safe Activities:

Upper body & core: seated or lying dumbbell workouts, planks, crunches, shoulder presses.
Arm ergometer (arm bike): light cardio without involving the operative leg.
Stretching: upper-body and non-involved leg only.

Sports to Avoid: All leg-dominant or weight-bearing sports — no golf, swimming kicks, or cycling yet.

🔹 Think of this as your tendon’s “quiet phase.” Focus on rest, nutrition, and upper-body conditioning.

6–10 Weeks: Early Mobility & Pool Work

Goals: Reintroduce gentle movement, partial weight bearing, and balance.

Safe Activities:

Pool walking: once the incision is fully healed, start walking or gentle kicking in chest-deep water.
Stationary cycling: minimal resistance, high seat height to avoid dorsiflexion past neutral.
Upper body & core: continue seated or supported training.

Sports Preview:

Swimming: upper-body strokes only (pull buoy between legs; no kicking yet).
Golf: putting and short chipping drills may begin around week 8–10 if balance allows — no pivoting or push-off.

⚠️ Avoid deep stretches, pushing off the toes, or calf raises — the tendon is still fragile.

10–16 Weeks: Strength and Gait Restoration

Goals: Normalize walking, restore lower leg strength, and build calf endurance.

Safe Activities:

Walking: gait typically begins to normalize around 3 months; a mild “hitch” or limp when tired is common.
Cycling: add moderate resistance as strength improves.
Elliptical: low incline and smooth stride pattern.
Balance and proprioception drills: single-leg stance, wobble board, or BAPS board.

Sports Preview:

Golf: gradual progression to full swing by 3–4 months; start with irons before drivers.
Swimming: resume light flutter kicks and freestyle once cleared (~12–14 weeks).
Yoga / Pilates: gentle lower-body mobility without forced dorsiflexion.

4–6 Months: Jogging, Controlled Agility & Low-Impact Sports

Goals: Rebuild calf power and dynamic control while maintaining tendon safety.

Safe Activities:

Jogging program: begin with walk/jog intervals on flat surfaces.
Stair climber / treadmill incline walking: controlled intensity.
Resistance training: leg press, lunges, and eccentric calf raises.

Sports Examples:

🏌️ Golf: most patients return to full rounds comfortably.
🏊 Swimming: all strokes (including kicks) are now safe.
🎾 Tennis / Pickleball: light rallies and hitting drills without explosive direction changes.
🧘 Yoga / Pilates: full return with modifications to avoid overstretching the tendon.
🏃 Running: short, steady jogs progressing to continuous running around 5–6 months.

🔹 Focus on smooth, symmetrical motion — don’t rush explosive push-offs or jumps.

6–9 Months: Advanced Strength & Controlled Return to Sport

Goals: Restore full calf strength, single-leg balance, and reintroduce dynamic activity.

Safe Activities:

Agility drills: side shuffles, ladder work, light directional changes.
Plyometric training: small hops, jump rope, controlled bounding.
Sport-specific training: gradual introduction of acceleration and deceleration movements.

Sports Examples:

🏌️ Golf: full competitive play and walking 18 holes.
🎾 Tennis / Pickleball: full swings, controlled lateral movement, doubles play.
🏊 Swimming: unrestricted.
⚽ Soccer: light ball drills, controlled passing, stationary shooting — no sprinting yet.
🏀 Basketball: form shooting, dribbling, and stationary ball handling drills.
🚴 Cycling: hills and higher resistance are now tolerated.

⚠️ This is the “confidence phase” — the tendon is strong, but sport reloading must be structured.

9–12 Months: Full Return to Sport

Goals: Achieve full strength, speed, and agility for unrestricted activity.

Sports Return Guide:

Sport	Typical Return	Key Notes
Golf	3–4 months	Full return by 4–5 months; focus on balance and follow-through control.
Swimming	3–4 months	Freestyle and breaststroke safe; watch calf fatigue with push-offs.
Tennis / Pickleball	6–8 months	Start with doubles; singles and full play at 9–10 months.
Basketball	9–12 months	Explosive jumps and cutting allowed after plyometric clearance.
Soccer	9–12 months	Sprinting and full match play around 10–12 months.
Running / Jogging	5–6 months	Gradual mileage increase; sprinting later.
Skiing / Snowboarding	10–12 months	Requires full calf strength and reaction time.
Gym Work / Weight Training	Ongoing	Maintain eccentric calf training indefinitely.

💡 Most athletes feel 80–95% recovered around 9 months and fully confident by 12 months.

Key Takeaways

Golf & swimming: return early (around 3–4 months).
Tennis, pickleball, and running: moderate-impact sports resume at 5–6 months.
Basketball and soccer: high-impact, cutting sports require ~9–12 months.
Consistency matters: structured rehab is the difference between returning to play and returning to form.