how to rehab a broken ankle after years

When to start physio after a broken ankle?

Sep 06, 2021 · Rehabilitation Exercise Program for a Broken Ankle Range of Motion Exercises. Ankle range of motion (ROM) exercises are one of the first things your PT will prescribe once... Flexibility Exercises. Towel calf stretching can improve the flexibility of the muscles on the back of your lower leg. ...

What is the normal recovery time for a sprained ankle?

Nov 12, 2016 · How I’m doing after rehabbing my broken ankle for one year An update on the physical problems. ... After many months of PT plus my own rehab efforts, I returned to yoga classes and short hikes at 5 months and the tennis court at 8 months and plan to resume snow skiing this winter. I recently went paddleboarding and took a 7-mile hike.

What are the best exercises for a sprained ankle?

Dec 22, 2021 · The Best Broken Ankle Recovery Tips. 1. Get the Right Diagnosis. An ankle injury isn’t as easy to diagnose as you’d think. A fracture and ankle sprain can oftentimes look and feel the ... 2. Avoid Weight Bearing Activities. 3. If You Need to Walk, Get Support. 4. Remember that Recovery Takes Time. ...

Do I need physical therapy after an ankle fracture?

Aug 05, 2017 · Here it is, another update cuz y'all just keep asking for more!+++Want way more broken ankle info? Head to my site for:— Almost 2 hours of exclusive intervie...

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.Apr 6, 2020

How do you treat an old broken ankle?

Foot and Ankle Fracture Treatment OptionsRest: Rest is key. ... Ice: Ice the area for 20 minutes at a time to help with swelling and inflammation. ... Compression: Wrapping the injury helps control swelling.Elevation: Keep your foot and ankle raised slightly above the level of your heart to help reduce inflammation.

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

Will my broken ankle ever heal?

You can expect most ankle fractures depending on how severe they are, to take 4-8 weeks for the bones to heal completely and up to several months to regain full use and range of motion of the joint. More severe fractures, especially those requiring surgical repair, may take longer to heal.Mar 6, 2021

Why does my healed broken ankle still hurt?

If your ankle starts to hurt long after a break, see your doctor for an evaluation. Bone infection (osteomyelitis). If you have an open fracture, meaning one end of the bone protrudes through the skin, your bone may be exposed to bacteria that cause infection.Mar 26, 2022

What happens if a broken ankle is not treated?

When a bone fracture is untreated, it can result in either a nonunion or a delayed union. In the former case, the bone doesn't heal at all, which means that it will remain broken. As a result, swelling, tenderness, and pain will continue to worsen over time.

Does breaking a bone take years off your life?

Fractures shorten life expectancy. A study of 30,000 women and men in Denmark, led by Jack Cush, M.D, found that a fracture, any fracture, increased that patient's 10-year mortality risk—but that the risk of death was highest in the first year after the fracture.Sep 5, 2018

Can a broken bone cause permanent damage?

Unfortunately, some nerve damage will never heal completely, causing a lifelong impact. Nerves can also be torn. This type of damage can result from sharp bone fragments contacting the nerves after a break and is most likely to happen when the skin is torn.Jun 27, 2016

Can a broken foot cause permanent damage?

Permanent Nerve Damage You have 7,000 nerve endings in each of your feet. An untreated foot fracture can cause permanent damage to any of these nerves, causing problems such as tingling sensation, difficulty controlling movement, and reduced sensitivity that may no longer subside.Feb 12, 2021

How do you strengthen a broken ankle?

Ankle dorsiflexionSit with your affected leg straight and supported on the floor. Your other leg should be bent, with that foot flat on the floor.Keeping your affected leg straight, gently flex your foot back toward your body so your toes point upward. ... Repeat 8 to 12 times.

Can you feel plates and screws in ankle?

In most instances, these screws and plates do not create symptoms and remain permanently in the foot. However, in some patients, hardware can become prominent or irritate a nearby tendon or other soft tissues. Some patients also complain of achiness in the foot or ankle related to weather changes.

Can screws in ankle cause pain?

Most people do not have problems with the plate and screws. In rare cases, the plate and screws can cause some pain or irritation. When this happens, the hardware may be removed after the fracture is healed, about a year from the original surgery.

An update on the physical problems

The physical problems I’ve been dealing with this last year are pain, swelling, numbness and stiffness. Last June I reported being 95 percent recovered and able to do almost all of my normal activities. I think it’s more like 97 percent now. A couple of things I can do now that I wasn’t able to before are running and jumping jacks.

Photos of my ankle one year later

The left ankle is the one that had surgery. They look the most alike in the morning when there’s no swelling. The left one will always be a little bigger now with all the hardware installed. I don’t plan to have it removed because it’s not causing me any problems and I really don’t want another surgery.

An update on the emotional problems

I didn’t talk about it much before but the emotional challenges are almost as difficult as the physical ones. I’ve experienced fear, depression, helplessness, flashbacks and frustration.

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 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

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.

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.

What can a broken ankle do to your body?

Duration of PT. A broken ankle can severely limit your ability to perform basic functional tasks like running and walking. This painful injury can cause loss of lower extremity strength, range of motion, and pain.

How to restore ankle function?

1. Work with your doctor on goals for restoring pain-free ankle function. Your recovery goal is to treat your symptoms and restore pain-free, pre-injury ankle function. This can take time and be quite challenging for some types of ankle fractures. In some cases, ankle function and walking gait may never return to pre-injury levels.

How to know if your ankle is broken?

Ask your doctor about the best strategies to reach these goals and what you can expect. 2. Manage most of your symptoms with rest and pain meds. Common ankle fracture symptoms include pain, tenderness, bruising and swelling.

What bone is the end of the shinbone?

The end of the shinbone (tibia), the end of the other lower leg bone (fibula), and the talus bone make up your ankle joint. Ankle fractures and dislocations can be either simple—involving just one bone—or complex—involving multiple bones. Recovery depends on the type, location, complexity and treatment.

What to do if your ankle hurts?

Doing too much too fast can cause problems, such as having the bone move out of position. It’s time to rest if your ankle starts to hurt. Ask your doctor when you can safely return to daily activities, work, and sports or other leisure activities. 5. Do your recommended exercises to build strength.

What to do if you have a stress fracture in your ankle?

If you have an ankle stress fracture, your doctor or therapist will talk to you about strategies to prevent future problems. This includes cross-training and alternating days of high- and low-intensity activities. Any type of fracture will benefit from building muscle strength around the bone.

How to strengthen bone around fractured bone?

Just be careful to engage in new activities slowly. Eating a balanced diet that includes calcium and vitamin D for bone strength will also help. Ask your doctor whether you need supplements to reach the necessary daily intake.

What are the symptoms of a complication in the ankle?

Call your doctor right away if you have fever, color changes in the ankle or foot, numbness, inability to move your toes, more swelling than expected, or increased pain . These could be signs of a complication.

What to do after a broken ankle?

Broken Ankle Recovery Exercises. You may be referred to a physiotherapist after your fracture has been treated to learn how to use your crutches, cane or walker to prevent undue stress on the healing fracture.

How long does it take for an ankle fracture to heal?

Most ankle fractures can take between 4-8 weeks to heal depending upon the extent of the damage. It may take a further period of time to regain the full range of motion and use of that ankle. Any ligaments and tendons involved will also need time to recover.

How to speed up ankle recovery?

More Tips to Speed up Broken Ankle Recovery 1 Do not try to bear weight on the injured ankle before the timescale your doctor has advised. Bearing weight on the injured foot before the ankle is ready can result in further injury and prevent a speedy recovery. 2 Use the mobility devices prescribed to ensure your weight is off the injured foot. 3 If you have had surgery, follow a healthy diet and nutritional supplementation to optimize bone healing. 4 Control your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes because uncontrolled glucose levels will delay bone healing. 5 Stop smoking as it affects wound and bone healing as well.

How to get rid of a swollen leg?

Lie down or sit on a hard surface with legs outstretched and knees facing the ceiling. Point the toes of your injured leg away from your body then towards your body. Repeat the pointing towards your other leg then pointing away.

How to get rid of a swollen ball of the foot?

Sit on a hard surface with the injured leg outstretched before you. Loop around your ball of foot with a piece of elastic tubing, holding the ends of the tubing in each hand. Push the ball of the foot away from the body against the tubing. Go back to the start position.

How to stretch a calf?

Stand up and face a wall with your hands braced on the wall at eye level. Hold injured foot back, toes facing slightly inward. Your other leg should be forward with the knee bent. Lean onto the wall until you feel a stretch in your back injured calf. Go back to the beginning position. Do this stretch a few times per day; holding the stretch for up to 30 seconds at a time.

How to stretch a broken ankle?

Sit on the floor with the injured foot stretched out before you. Place a towel around the ball of your foot; pull the towel gently towards your body without bending the knee. For better results in broken ankle recovery, this stretch should be repeated about 3 times; holding the stretch up to 30 seconds. 3.

Broken ankle: waiting for surgery

There was surprisingly little pain. My ankle was stabilized at the ER and I was sent home with instructions to stay off my left leg (non weight bearing or NWB) and keep it elevated while awaiting surgery. Oh, and I wasn’t allowed to shower either. (Try washing your hair in the kitchen sink while standing on one leg.)

Broken ankle surgery

That happened 11 days later on September 17. Right before going into the OR the nurses told me this was going to be a painful surgery. Such an inadequate word to describe the horror of the next 24 hours. The pain was excruciating. It felt like someone was sawing away at my ankle with a hacksaw.

Removing stitches, and do you want a cast or a boot?

The cast came off and I didn’t want to look at my foot but got a glimpse of it anyway. My exact words were, “I look like Frankenstein.” My foot was laced with wounds: a five inch long one on the left side, one inch across the top of my foot, and three inches on the right side.

Learning to walk again after a broken ankle

When I got home I took out the crutches and practiced walking while putting some pressure on the left foot. I found it impossibly clunky to try and walk with the boot on so I ditched it immediately. My foot needed a lot of support which the boot did not provide. Not having anything suitable I ordered orthopedic shoes which helped me a lot.

Driving after a broken ankle

It’s illegal to drive with a cast or a boot on either foot. When I became FWB I was legally allowed to drive but couldn’t since my car has a manual transmission which requires the use of both feet. So I had to learn how to drive again.

Walking without a limp

While I was able to walk on my own, limping was a problem. I began using one crutch (on the good side) for support most of the time while training myself to walk properly.

Pain during and after a broken ankle

For me there wasn’t a lot of pain when I first broke my ankle. I rated it as a 3 out of 10.

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 does it take for a broken ankle to heal?

A broken or fractured ankle is painful and will reduce your mobility. When surgery is not recommended, it will take at least 6 weeks for the bone to heal. This recovery time will vary greatly, depending on the extent of the break.

How to stop ankle pain from swelling?

You’ll want to keep your foot elevated as much as possible. The goal is to reduce swelling in the ankle and decrease pain. You’ll want to apply ice to the area when the injury first occurs to try and decrease the pain. You can also take some Ibuprofen to help with the pain. 3.

How to heal a broken bone?

Start Taking Supplements. If you’re lacking in the calcium department, you’ll have a harder time healing. Calcium is a supplement that’s recommended for anyone with a broken bone so long as the person doesn’t consume excess amounts of the mineral. Fish oils have also been shown to speed up the healing process.

What will a doctor do if you have a broken bone?

What your doctor will do is monitor the healing process with repeated X-rays. The doctor will be checking to see how well the bone has healed. If you damaged ligaments or tendons, your recovery time may be even longer.

What is Allie's job?

Allie has worked in care facilities for the last 15 years providing mobility and health care to seniors of all skill levels. She is passionate about senior advocacy and is and loves to spend her free time in the outdoors.

Why do you need a knee scooter?

Stable and easier to get around in, a knee scooter eliminates the risk that you’ll slip and potentially fall. When you use crutches, there are times when you’ll instinctively put your foot down. If you bear weight on your ankle, it may slow down your recovery time. Click here to see knee scooters we recommend. 2.

What can you do if you have a fracture?

A lot of people will ignore this plan, but it’s the worst thing that you can do. You may, if you have a fracture, use alternative forms of healing, too. Ultrasound, electrical stimulation and even magnet healing therapies are available. The efficacy of these treatments are unknown, but they may help you heal faster.