How long for a broken ankle to completely heal?
We can provide a rough estimate, but it generally takes at least 6 weeks for the broken bones in the ankle to heal. That said, it might take longer for the affected tendons and ligaments to mend. It is important to make an appointment so one of our doctors can do a thorough examination to determine the extent of your injuries.
When can I Drive after recovering from a broken ankle?
Recovery time for a broken ankle is between six and 10 weeks. Whether you have surgery or not, you’ll probably need to wear a cast, splint or walking boot for about the first six weeks. Once your doctor has given you the go-ahead, you can start putting some pressure on your foot and slowly build up to walking again over a few weeks.
How long before you can drive after a broken ankle?
The typical broken or fractured ankle recovery time can be entirely dependent on how serious the break is, but in most cases this can last between 6 to 12 weeks. What type of fracture is suffered is separated according to which bone is damaged in the injury.
What is the healing process for a broken ankle?
Dec 24, 2018 · How long does a broken ankle take to heal? 1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in Share Dr. Jeffrey Kass answered Podiatry 29 years experience Bone typically: Heals in about 6-8 weeks. Keep in mind there are factors that delay healing and most fractures need to be stable to heal. 4.8k views Answered >2 years ago Thank 5 thanks
How long does it take to fully recover from a 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.Aug 2, 2021
Can you fully recover from a broken ankle?
Depending on the severity of your foot and/or ankle fracture, it can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to fully recover. Speak with your doctor about what recovery may mean for you. Healing takes time, and even after the pain wears off it is important to take it easy.
How do you rehab a broken ankle?
0:002:14Rehabilitation Exercises for a Broken Ankle - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAgainst a wall with a wide stance. The back legs straight and heel on the floor to stretch theMoreAgainst a wall with a wide stance. The back legs straight and heel on the floor to stretch the soleus muscle. Bring the back leg forward slightly.
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].Nov 21, 2012
How do I know if my broken ankle is healing?
Signs Your Broken Bone Is HealingWhat You Experience During Healing. The following steps are what you will go through as your broken bone is healing:Pain Decreases. ... Range of Motion Increases. ... Swelling Goes Down. ... Bruising Subsides. ... Orthopedic Clinic in Clinton Township, MI.Oct 9, 2020
Will I need physical therapy 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.Oct 4, 2019
When should I start physio after ankle fracture?
The next step of physiotherapy happens once the ankle has been set and is somewhat healed, normally six to ten weeks after the injury. Then the patient will begin to attend appointments with a physiotherapist to begin the rehabilitation process.Sep 22, 2016
How long does it take to recover from a broken ankle?
Broken Ankle Recovery Time. The recovery time for a broken ankle is around 6-10 weeks. Whether you have surgery or not, you’ll probably need to wear a cast, splint or walking boot for around the first six weeks.
How to stay mobile after a broken ankle?
Knee scooters or “knee walkers” are another option to stay mobile while recovering from a broken ankle. They are more efficient than crutches and require less upper body strength. They are great on flat surfaces as you can scoot easily from point A to point B without getting exhausted, but they don’t work on stairs, slopes or uneven terrain. You also need to use your hands to operate the scooter so you still can’t carry things around, and they are bulky which makes them difficult to transport. It’s also difficult to navigate tight environments when on a knee scooter.
What are the bones that run from the knee to the ankle?
The ankle joint is made up of three bones. The tibia and fibula are the two long bones that run from your knee down to your ankle. The tibia, also known as the shinbone, is the weight-bearing bone and is the thicker and larger of the two. The fibula, or calf-bone, runs parallel and helps to stabilize the tibia.
What is the best way to diagnose ankle fractures?
The most commonly used imaging technique, X-rays can diagnose most ankle fractures. They will also determine the severity of the ankle fracture and whether there are any additional fractures in your leg or foot.
How do you know if you broke your ankle?
The most common symptom of a broken ankle is pain, which is usually immediate and intense. The pain may radiate up and down your leg and even down into your foot. Other symptoms of an ankle fracture or break are: In some cases, you may see exposed bone, which is called an open or compound fracture.
What is the most common fracture of the ankle?
Any one of these bones can break. However, the most common ankle fracture is known as lateral malleolus, which occurs in the fibula, just above the ankle joint. This accounts for around 55% of all ankle fractures (2). Any one of these bones can break.
What is the third bone in the ankle?
The fibula, or calf-bone, runs parallel and helps to stabilize the tibia. The third bone is the talus, a small wedge-shaped bone located deep in your ankle that supports both the tibia and the fibula. Any one of these bones can break. However, the most common ankle fracture is known as lateral malleolus, which occurs in the fibula, ...
How long does it take to recover from a broken ankle?
How Long Is The Recovery Time For A Broken Ankle? The typical broken or fractured ankle recovery time can be entirely dependent on how serious the break is, but in most cases this can last between 6 to 12 weeks. What type of fracture is suffered is separated according to which bone is damaged in the injury.
How long does it take for a broken ankle to heal?
This break will generally require surgery to ensure effective healing and could from 3 to 4 months to heal properly.
What does it mean when your ankle is broken?
A broken or fractured ankle occurs when there is a partial or complete fracture in the ankle joint. Broken ankles can be caused through putting excessive stress on the joint either through heavy impact or twisting it beyond its range of movement. Sometimes the symptoms of a broken or fractured ankle can be like that of a sprain.
How long does it take to heal a broken fibula?
A fractured or broken fibula of this type is referred to as a Lateral Malleolus Fracture and is the most common type of break. This break can take up to 6 weeks to recover without surgery, however the broken ankle recovery time after surgery can be up to 12 weeks in certain cases.
What is a broken ankle?
Generally speaking, a broken ankle is defined as any fracture to the bones that build up the structure of an ankle. A fracture can range in severity from a hairline fracture to a complete break of the ankle bone. The ankle joint is built of three main bones: the tibia, fibula and talus, and any fracture to these bones is considered a broken ankle.
How long does it take for a tibial fracture to heal?
This injury usually results in the bone being displaced and is usually treated with surgery. Depending on the success of the surgery, healing could take from 6 to 12 weeks.
How to strengthen ankle joint?
After some time, and your ankle is load bearing, you could begin to implement exercises that introduce more weight and more specific movements to continue to build the strength of the joint as it heals. Some example exercises at this point include: 1 Sitting on a chair, with both feet on the ground, place your uninjured foot on top of the recovering foot, and try to lift the foot underneath. Use your top foot to prevent the lower foot from moving and provide something to push against. Repeat the movement by lifting up and down gently. 2 While sitting on the floor, attach a rubber exercise band to something solid, and hook it onto the toes of your injured foot. Move back far enough to create enough tension and begin to bend and straighten your ankle. 3 Sitting in a chair, cross you feet to press the outside of both feet together. Then press your feet together tightly and hold for 10 seconds.
How long would it take to heal a broken ankle?
Depends: It depends on how severe the fracture which bones and how it is treated.
How long does it take a broken ankle to heal?
Distal fib fracture: Varies depending on age, health, smoking status, nutrition, displacement, etc. Average person the answer is about 6 wks, but then additional maturation of the fracture occurs with soft tissue healing and muscle strengthening.
How long is it supposed to it take for a broken ankle to heal?
6 to 12 weeks: Bone healing takes 6 to 12 weeks no matter what location.
How long willa broken ankle take to heal?
Ankle: A nondisplaced lateral malleolar fracture usually takes around 8 weeks to heal.
What to do if you have a broken ankle?
If you have suffered a broken ankle, you may benefit from the skilled services of a physical therapist to help you return to optimal function once your fracture has healed. Your physical therapist (PT) may use various treatments and modalities to help control your pain or swelling or to improve the way your ankle moves.
What to do after ankle fracture?
Plyometric Exercise. If you participate in high-intensity sports, you may want to perform plyometric exercises like jumping and hopping to prepare for a return to the sport after an ankle fracture.
What can a physical therapist do for ankle fractures?
Your physical therapist can prescribe the right exercises for you to do at the right stage of healing to ensure that you can return to optimal mobility quickly and safely. Your PT will likely prescribe a specific exercise program during your ankle fracture rehabilitation. The goals of the program are to help improve ankle mobility, strength, ...
How to improve ankle ROM after a fracture?
Another fun exercise to do to improve ankle ROM after a fracture is to do ankle alphabet. Simply pretend that your toes are a pencil, and draw letters with your foot by moving your ankle. Draw each letter slowly and deliberately in both upper and lower case. This can be performed several times per day.
What happens after a fractured ankle?
After a period of immobilization in a cast or brace, you may notice that the muscles around your ankle have become significantly weakened. This is common after an ankle fracture, and your PT will likely prescribe exercises to improve your ankle strength. 1
How to improve flexibility after ankle fracture?
Flexibility Exercises. To improve muscular flexibility around your ankle after a fracture, you can perform a few different exercises. 1 . Towel calf stretching can improve the flexibility of the muscles on the back of your lower leg. Simply wrap a towel around your toes and give a slow, gentle pull to stretch your calf.
How to get rid of a swollen ankle?
Simply play the band around your toes, and have someone hold it as you move your ankle into dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion, and eversion. Perform 15 to 20 repetitions of each exercise, and stop if you feel any sharp pains.
How long does it take to rehab a broken ankle?
In general, physical therapy for a broken ankle lasts about 6 to 8 weeks.
How to get back to walking after a broken ankle?
Exercise to improve functional mobility and walking ability. You'll most likely be required to perform a home exercise program for your broken ankle. This program may continue for several months after physical therapy has stopped, and the program may be an important component in your long-term rehab success.
Why do you put your ankle in a cast?
The pieces of bone must be put in close proximity to one another so that healing can occur. Fracture reduction is essential to ensure that the bone heals properly and that permanent functional loss or deformity is avoided. After your ankle fracture is reduced , your ankle will most likely be placed in a cast.
How to heal a fractured ankle?
Exercises for ankle fracture rehabilitation may include: 1 Exercises for ankle range of motion 2 Ankle strengthening exercises 3 Hip and knee exercises (to help improve walking ability) 4 Balance and proprioception exercises 5 Exercise to improve functional mobility and walking ability
What bone is the ankle?
Your ankle is a joint where the talus bone of the foot and the tibia (shin bone) and fibula of the leg connect and move. Trauma here can cause a break in any or all of these bones and significant pain usually results immediately after the injury. Ankle fractures almost always occur during a traumatic event to the body.
What is the best treatment for ankle fracture?
An ankle fracture can lead to significant loss of function and limit your ability to walk, run, or participate fully in work and recreational activities. Physical therapy after an ankle fracture can help you improve mobility and help you safely return to normal activity and function.
How to tell if you have a broken ankle?
If you suspect you have a broken bone in your ankle, your first step should be to seek medical attention immediately. Failure to do so may result in a significant loss of function.
Overview
A broken ankle, or ankle fracture, is one of the most common causes of ankle pain. An ankle fracture happens when you break one or more bones in your ankle joint.
Symptoms and Causes
It’s not always easy to know if that pain in your ankle means your ankle is sprained or broken. And if your ankle is broken, you probably won’t know if you’ve broken more than one bone until your healthcare provider can take a look.
Diagnosis and Tests
Your healthcare provider has several tests they use to diagnose ankle fractures and determine the extent of your injury. Tests your provider might use to examine your fracture can include:
Management and Treatment
Ankle fracture treatment depends on factors such as the number of ankle bones broken. Not all broken ankles require surgery, but all broken ankles require some level of care to heal.
Prevention
Many ankle fractures happen after traumatic events such as motor vehicle accidents, falling or being injured playing sports.
