Non-operative Treatment of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture Using Dynamic Rehabilitation. Influence of Early Weight-bearing Compared With Non-weight-bearing

Acute achilles tendon rupture is relatively frequent (11 to 37 per 100,000). There are great social benefits in optimizing treatment and shortening recovery. There is no consensus concerning the best treatment of acute achilles tendon rupture. Traditionally, surgical treatment is considered superior, but more recent studies show evidence that non-operative treatment with early dynamic rehabilitation gives the same functional outcome with fewer side effects. Traditionally non-operative treatment involves non-weightbearing for 6 weeks. This is not evidence based rather due to tradition. It is well documented that mechanical load improves tendon healing in general and has no detrimental effect on the healing of operated achilles tendons. The objective of this randomized study is to compare early weight-bearing with non-weight-bearing following non-operative treatment of acutely ruptured Achilles tendons.