Physio Explains: Should You See A Physio After An Ankle Fracture?
For many people, physio is a helpful part of recovery after an ankle fracture. If you sustained an ankle injury you should go to A&E, your GP, or a physiotherapist. They will be able to determine if the ankle is fractured or sprained.
After you have been medically diagnosed with an ankle fracture you may or may not need surgery, depending on the severity or complexity of the break. Regardless, of if you need surgery or not, a physiotherapist can give you a structured programme to help you regain strength and movement.
Physiotherapy is so important after an ankle fracture, especially if you have been in a cast for 6 or more weeks, you will need to strengthen the lower leg and ankle. Even with minor ankle fractures or stress fractures, physiotherapy can still help.
Physiotherapy after an ankle fracture aims to reduce pain, improve strength and range of motion, improve balance and proprioception (the ability to sense where your body is in space), and lower the risk of future ankle injuries.
If you have had physio after a broken ankle we would love to hear from you. Leave us a comment below with your experience.
Should You See A Physio After An Ankle Fracture?
It is usually worth seeing a physio after an ankle fracture. Your GP or surgeon will probably refer you to a physiotherapist for follow-up treatment, and your physiotherapist will keep your GP updated on your efforts and progress throughout treatment.
Reasons To See A Physio
There are many reasons why seeing a physiotherapist after an ankle fracture is a good idea.
- Physio will help reduce pain and swelling around the ankle joint.
- They will give gentle exercises that are safe for the ankle.
- if your break required surgery, the physio will help decrease post-operative pain and swelling. (check out our post on post-op physio for more info)
- Physio aims to lower the risk of re-injury by strengthening the muscles around the ankle joint.
- Physio will help you improve the range of motion in your ankle joint.
- You will learn how to increase your balance and proprioception which is the body’s ability to sense where it is in space. Having good balance and awareness of where you are can help prevent re-injury as well as falls.
- Physio will safely and gradually facilitate returning to normal hobbies and sporting activities.
Rehabilitation
There are several goals your physiotherapist will formulate with you. Such as:
- Reduce pain.
- Increase range of motion.
- Increase the strength of the lower leg and ankle.
- Increase the stability of the ankle joint.
- Improve weight-bearing.
- Improve or normalize gait (how you walk).
- Improve balance, coordination, and proprioception.
- Improve ability to jump and run, and perform plyometric movements (if you want to return to sports).
Rehabilitation for ankle fractures can take time, so be patient with your body, and be consistent, and know you are doing your best to help your ankle heal, so you can return to your normal activities. Give it time.
Sports Specific Rehab
If you are keen to get back to sports and this ankle injury has been holding you back, a physio can help you get back on the field, court or trails safely, with sports-specific rehab.
When you are ready to return back sports, physio can help reduce the risk of re-injury because the physio will work with your specific needs and injury history. They can assess if there are any deficits in strength, range of motion, or stability that may predispose you to another ankle fracture or re-injury when returning back to sports.
In addition, the physio will teach you what is safe and effective when returning back to your sport or activity of choice after an ankle fracture which helps ensure a good return-to-play plan.
Follow-up Appointment
Your physio will continue to monitor you at follow-ups, these appointments can be several weeks or months apart. They may also give ongoing suggestions for more exercises you can do on your own to help reduce the risk of re-injury.
Conclusion
Ankle fractures are common, and physio can help with decreasing pain and swelling, maintaining mobility, and reducing the risk of re-injury. The physio will help you return back to your normal activities safely so that it doesn’t affect your life or daily activities such as work or school. Ask a physio about treatment options to help with your recovery.