In general, physical therapy for a broken ankle lasts about 6 to 8 weeks. Your personal experience with PT may be shorter or longer depending on your specific injury. Continuing your home exercise program is a component of your rehabilitation.
Is physical therapy necessary after a broken ankle?
Even if your ankle fracture has healed, you still need physical therapy to ensure your ankle and lower leg are in pristine condition. When a fracture occurs, the area is generally immobilized, so the body can heal the fracture.
What kind of therapy do I need for a broken ankle?
Treatment may include gentle massage, the use of a compression wrap, ice, or heat, and elevating the affected ankle when at rest. Exercise. Your physical therapist will design an exercise plan to begin when the cast is removed to help you strengthen and regain motion in your injured ankle.
How do you regain strength after a broken ankle?
What is the fastest way to heal a broken ankle?
Rest: Rest is key. Staying off your injury will help you heal faster. You will likely wear a cast to help keep the foot and ankle immobilized. Ice: Ice the area for 20 minutes at a time to help with swelling and inflammation.
When can I start putting weight on my broken ankle?
Ankle fractures can take a long time to heal. Recovery depends on how much damage was done when you fractured your ankle. Most people can put weight on their ankle within 16 weeks after surgery. But it can take as long as two years for an ankle fracture to heal completely.
Do you need physical therapy after wearing a boot?
Were you immobilized in a cast or cam boot? Physical therapy will help to strengthen and stabilize your ankle joint after an injury, especially after a period of immobilization. You might notice when you are taken out of a cast or cam boot that your calf is significantly smaller compared to your other leg.
What can I expect at physical therapy for my ankle?
- Squats.
- Hydrotherapy.
- Towel stretches.
- Stationary biking.
- Weighted ball work.
- Wobble board work.
- Slant board stretches.
How do I start walking after broken ankle?
You may be able to wear a walking boot or splint that helps provide your ankle with support throughout the healing process. A cane or walker can also help provide you with support and stability while you recover from a broken ankle and help reduce your risk of falling.
How long do you have to wear a boot for a broken ankle?
Orthopedic boots protect broken bones and other injuries of the lower leg, ankle, or foot. They prevent more damage and help the area heal. Your doctor may have you use a boot for 1 to 6 weeks.
What happens if you don’t do physical therapy after ankle surgery?
By avoiding physical therapy, you’ll miss out on learning flexibility exercises. The decreased flexibility after surgery can keep healing from occurring as fast. This is because inflexible joints and tissue tend to have less blood flow, which means fewer nutrients can get to the ankle to run the healing process.
What are the long term effects of a broken ankle?
Long term effects of ankle fractures have been reported to include physical, psychological, and social consequences [9]. It has been reported that physical impairments following ankle fractures may include pain, functional impairment and the development of post-trauma arthritis [16].
How do I know my ankle fracture is healing?
- Pain Decreases. No matter how big or small your fracture is, the one thing they all hold in common is the pain you’ll experience due to it.
- Increased Mobility.
- Lack of Bruising.
- Swelling Subsides.
Will my ankle ever be the same after a break?
If it’s a low-to-medium grade ligament injury or a stable bone fracture, then it’s highly likely that the ankle will be similar to before. With more severe ligaments and unstable fractures, there is always some difference in flexibility and appearance.
Can I massage my broken ankle?
Applying Massage Therapy After A Fracture In many cases, massage can be performed around the injured areas, which allows you to reap its benefits even if you’re still wearing a cast. By working on the tissues that surround the affected area, circulation can be stimulated while reducing the buildup of lymph.
What slows down broken bone healing?
For all patients with fractured bones, immobilization is a critical part of treatment because any movement of bone fragments slows down the initial healing process.
What are the 5 stages of fracture healing?
- Hematoma Formation (Days 1 to 5) This stage begins immediately following the fracture.
- Fibrocartilaginous Callus Formation (Days 5 to 11)
- Bony Callus Formation (Days 11 to 28)
- Bone Remodelling (Day 18 onwards, lasting months to years)
Can you walk on a broken ankle with a boot?
Walking: You may walk on the foot as comfort allows but you may find it easier to walk on your heel in the early stages. The boot you have been given is for your comfort only and is not needed to aid fracture healing but will help to settle your symptoms.
What should you not do with a broken ankle?
not take ibuprofen until you have seen a doctor. not eat or drink anything in case you need surgery. not move or put weight on your ankle if possible.
How do I transition from walking boot to shoe?
Day 1 – Wear a good running shoe for 1-2 hours then return to your CAM Boot for the rest of the day. 2. Day 2 – Wear the shoe for 2-3 hours then return to your CAM Boot for the rest of the day.
What happens at 6 weeks non weight bearing?
Skeletal muscle weakness and atrophy occur following an extended period of decreased use, including space flight and limb unloading. It is also likely that affected muscles will be susceptible to a re-loading injury when they begin return to earth or weight bearing.
How many hours a day should you wear a walking boot?
DO wear your sock and boot any time you are on your feet. DO spend about 2 to -3 hours each day with your ankle elevated above the level of your heart.
How far can I walk in a walking boot?
Walking boots can be either tall or short. The tall version can extend as far as the knee while the short boot may perhaps only reach halfway between the foot and knee.
Can you walk in a walking boot without crutches?
Do you actually need crutches with a walking boot? The short answer is no: You don’t need crutches with a walking boot. While you shouldn’t generally put weight on a walking boot, other mobility aids can be used instead of crutches to prevent this from occurring. These include wheelchairs, canes, walkers, and others.