“How long will this take to heal?” Is the question we get asked the most!

The honest answer: it depends.

Here’s our rough guide.
*These are ballparks not deadlines. Age, sleep, nutrition, load and how early you get assessed all shape your timeline.

Muscle Strains

Grade I

Back to full activity in about 1-3 weeks

Grade II (partial tear)

About 3-4 weeks

Grade III (complete rupture)

3-6+ months

Note: this varies, and is dependant on what is torn, and if surgical intervention is required or not

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Ligament sprains (e.g. ankle)

Grade I

Back to full activity in about 1-3 weeks

Grade II (partial tear)

About 3-6 weeks

Grade III (complete rupture)

3-6+ months

Note: this varies, and is dependant on what is torn, and if surgical intervention is required or not

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Tendon injuries

Acute

2-6 weeks

Subacute

2-4 months

Tear or rupture needing surgical intervention

4-12+ months

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Bone injuries (e.g. fractures/breaks)

General rule of thumb: commonly 6-12+ weeks, site, blood supply, and fracture pattern dependant.
e.g. a fibula fracture can take >7 weeks to heal, vs a proximal 5th metatarsal can take up to 20 weeks

Note: rehab may take longer if there are secondary issues paried
e.g. muscle loss from inhibition post casting

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sources:
Kerin, F., O'Flanagan, S., Coyle, J., Farrell, G., Curley, D., McCarthy Persson, U., De Vito, G., & Delahunt, E. (2023). Intramuscular Tendon Injuries of the Hamstring Muscles: A More Severe Variant? A Narrative Review. Sports medicine - open, 9(1), 75. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00621-4

Encinas, R., Sharpe, J., Bakaes, Y., Mazoue, C., Jackson, B., & Gonzalez, T. (2025). Fibula Stress Fractures: A Systematic Review. Foot & ankle specialist, 18(5), 501–507. https://doi.org/10.1177/19386400231184124

Mark-Christensen, T., Troelsen, A., Kallemose, T., & Barfod, K. W. (2016). Functional rehabilitation of patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture: a meta-analysis of current evidence. Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 24(6), 1852–1859. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3180-5‍

European Society of Sports Traumatology, K. S. and A. (1993). Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA. Springer International. https://link.springer.com/journal/167

Wellings, E. P., Huang, T. C., Li, J., Peterson, T. E., Hooke, A. W., Rosenbaum, A., Zhao, C. D., Behfar, A., Moran, S. L., & Houdek, M. T. (2021). Intrinsic Tendon Regeneration After Application of Purified Exosome Product: An In Vivo Study. Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 9(12), 23259671211062929. https://doi.org/10.1177/23259671211062929