How Physical Therapy Helps You After Ankle Surgery

Ankle surgery is sometimes necessary if you have chronic ankle pain due to an injury or disability. Surgery can help alleviate the pain, but you are not out of the woods yet. Following an operation, you are most likely going to have to undergo some form of Physical Therapy. This is because Physical Therapy plays an important role in your ankle recovery, as it can speed up the recovery process.

Post ankle surgery, you still won’t be 100% back to normal. It can sometimes take weeks or months for your body to heal. This is dependent on the person and what kind of ankle surgery had to be done. To speed up the recovery process, you will be recommended to go to a Physical Therapist. It typically takes an outpatient several weeks before even attempting to do physical therapy. Going to Physical Therapy weeks later after surgery gives your ankle some time to start to feel better, especially if there is a lot of swelling post-surgery. Once you start Physical Therapy, it can last for five months or more depending on your situation.

During Physical Therapy, your therapist will tell you what they want you to focus on to maximize your outcome. In the beginning of your physical therapy session, your Physical Therapist might recommend electrical stimulation or an icing session. Doing this will help reduce any pain or discomfort in your ankle. Your ankle might also still be very stiff, or you might not be able to put any weight on it. To combat this, your Physical Therapist will employ several tactics to strengthen your ankle and increase its range-of-motion. This includes stretching, balance training and using resistance bands for strength exercises. Following what your Physical Therapists says is key to a speedy recovery.

Ankle surgery does not make you feel better overnight. It takes time for you to feel better. Physical therapy plays a critical part in restoring movement and reducing pain in your ankle. If you feel Physical Therapy is right for you, please consult your doctor.

For more information on how Physical Therapy can help your ankle, click here.

Article written by William Graves.