Ankle Reconstruction – Postoperative Physiotherapy

Overview

When you are recovering from ankle surgery there is a rehabilitation protocol to be followed which may vary slightly depending on the severity of the injury. Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group will prepare a program for you depending on the nature of your surgery. Treatment options listed below are guidelines and will be adapted to suit each individual patient depending on age, function, sport, occupation and rehabilitation goals.

Process – Management Instructions

First 2 weeks (Goals – prevent complications; maintain movement and strength in unaffected joints)

Wear half-cast or CAM boot
Keep to non- weight bearing activities
Perform a range of hip and knee motion exercises
Exercise your quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteal muscles
Perform deep breathing exercises

Weeks 2-4 (Goals – control pain and swelling; regain active movements)

Transfer to CAM boot or ankle brace
Commence weight bearing, PWB or WBAT depending on Dr Rodda or Dr Connon’s instructions
Perform theraband strengthening exercises in all directions
Do double leg calf raises, then progress to single leg calf raises
Perform advanced balance/proprioception exercise e.g. wobble board, foam
Stretch calves
Swim with gentle kick
Cycle as much as is comfortable

Return to Sport (Goals – single leg balance for 1 minute with eyes open; single leg calf raises 3 x 30; single leg squat to 900; lunge +6cm; hopping on the spot; normal lower limb mechanics including pelvis/hip/knee control; direction change tests within 10% of other side; wean off brace)

Perform single leg heel raises
Stretch calves
Perform theraband strengthening, focusing on dorsiflexion and eversion
Hop and land
Perform ladder and lateral hopping
Run, swim and cycle

Prevention of recurrence (Goals – normal mechanics; high level balance; landing strategies; direction change strategies)

Perform advanced landing drills e.g. catching, marking, feed forward training
Practice balance integration i.e. strength work on BOSU ball
Perform plyometric training