title: Return to physical activity after gastrocnemius recession.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively investigate the time taken and patients' ability to resume preoperative level of physical activity after gastrocnemius recession.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endoscopic gastrocnemius recession (EGR) was performed on 48 feet in 46 consecutive sportspersons, with a minimum follow-up of 24 mo. The Halasi Ankle Activity Score was used to quantify the level of physical activity. Time taken to return to work and physical activity was recorded. Functional outcomes were evaluated using the short form 36 (SF-36), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Hindfoot score and modified Olerud and Molander (O and M) scores respectively. Patient's satisfaction and pain experienced were assessed using a modified Likert scale and visual analogue scales.P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-one percent (n= 42) of all patients returned to their preoperative level of physical activity after EGR. The mean time for return to physical activity was 7.5 (2-24) mo. Ninety-eight percent (n= 45) of all patients were able to return to their preoperative employment status, with a mean time of 3.6 (1-12) mo. Ninety-six percent (n= 23) of all patients with an activity score > 2 were able to resume their preoperative level of physical activity in mean time of 8.8 mo, as compared to 86% (n= 19) of patients whose activity score was ≤ 2, with mean time of 6.1 mo. Significant improvements were noted in SF-36, AOFAS hindfoot and modified O and M scores. Ninety percent of all patients rated good or very good outcomes on the Likert scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of patients were able to return to their pre-operative level of sporting activity after EGR.
authors.affiliation: Camelia Tang Qian Ying, Sean Lai Wei Hong, Bing Howe Lee, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
authors.forename: Camelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang Qian Ying
authors.affiliation: Camelia Tang Qian Ying, Sean Lai Wei Hong, Bing Howe Lee, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lai Wei Hong
authors.affiliation: Camelia Tang Qian Ying, Sean Lai Wei Hong, Bing Howe Lee, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
authors.forename: Bing Howe
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Camelia Tang Qian Ying, Sean Lai Wei Hong, Bing Howe Lee, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
authors.forename: Gowreeson
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thevendran
keywords: Endoscopic gastrocnemius release; Foot and ankle; Post-operative outcomes; Return to physical activity; Time return to work