If you have suffered a Lisfranc fracture, your healthcare provider may need to perform surgery to help stabilize your foot. Sometimes surgery is not necessary. A period of immobilization is usually required after a Lisfranc injury, whether or not you’ve had surgery.
You may benefit from the skilled services of aphysical therapistif you have suffered a Lisfranc injury. Your physical therapist can assess your condition and offer treatments to help decrease your pain and improve yourrange of motion (ROM), strength, and overall functional mobility.
Exercise after a Lisfranc injury is one component of your rehab program. Your physical therapist will likely prescribe exercises to help your foot and ankle move better and feel better.
The program should not start until your healthcare provider clears you to exercise, so check in with them before starting this, or any other, exercise program.
1Ankle and Foot Range of Motion ExercisesBrett Sears, PT, 2011After a Lisfranc fracture, your foot and ankle will likely be immobilized in a cast or walking boot.During this time, you may be walking with crutches. Once the Lisfranc fracture is fully healed and you are allowed to start moving your ankle, your PT will likely prescribeankle mobility exercises. These exercises are simple, yet they are an important first step in regaining normal ROM in your ankle and foot.To start, lie on your bed with your foot hanging slightly over the edge. Then perform the following motions:Ankle plantar flexion: point your toes down as far as possible.Ankle dorsiflexion: flex your foot and toes up towards your knee as far as possible.Ankle inversion: point your foot and toes in the direction of your big toe.Ankle eversion: point your foot and toes in the direction of your pinky toe.Repeat each ankle ROM exercise for 10 repetitions, holding each position for three to five seconds.Your PT may also prescribe a fun exercise called the ankle alphabet. To do this, simply draw the letters of the alphabet with your toes. This helps to improve your ankle ROM in all directions.
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Ankle and Foot Range of Motion ExercisesBrett Sears, PT, 2011After a Lisfranc fracture, your foot and ankle will likely be immobilized in a cast or walking boot.During this time, you may be walking with crutches. Once the Lisfranc fracture is fully healed and you are allowed to start moving your ankle, your PT will likely prescribeankle mobility exercises. These exercises are simple, yet they are an important first step in regaining normal ROM in your ankle and foot.To start, lie on your bed with your foot hanging slightly over the edge. Then perform the following motions:Ankle plantar flexion: point your toes down as far as possible.Ankle dorsiflexion: flex your foot and toes up towards your knee as far as possible.Ankle inversion: point your foot and toes in the direction of your big toe.Ankle eversion: point your foot and toes in the direction of your pinky toe.Repeat each ankle ROM exercise for 10 repetitions, holding each position for three to five seconds.Your PT may also prescribe a fun exercise called the ankle alphabet. To do this, simply draw the letters of the alphabet with your toes. This helps to improve your ankle ROM in all directions.
Ankle and Foot Range of Motion Exercises
Brett Sears, PT, 2011
After a Lisfranc fracture, your foot and ankle will likely be immobilized in a cast or walking boot.During this time, you may be walking with crutches. Once the Lisfranc fracture is fully healed and you are allowed to start moving your ankle, your PT will likely prescribeankle mobility exercises. These exercises are simple, yet they are an important first step in regaining normal ROM in your ankle and foot.
To start, lie on your bed with your foot hanging slightly over the edge. Then perform the following motions:
Repeat each ankle ROM exercise for 10 repetitions, holding each position for three to five seconds.
Your PT may also prescribe a fun exercise called the ankle alphabet. To do this, simply draw the letters of the alphabet with your toes. This helps to improve your ankle ROM in all directions.
2Toe and Mid Foot Arch Flexibility StretchBrett Sears, PT, 2012A Lisfranc fracture affects the mobility of your foot’s arch.After the injury and after a period of immobilization, your arch may feel tight, or the tendons that course along the bottom of your foot to your toes may become tight.Stretching your arch and the tendons of your foot is a simple way to improve your overall foot mobility. To do the exercise, place your toes up against a wall with your heel on the floor. Gently press your toes into the wall until you feel a stretch on the underside of your foot. Hold the position for 15 to 30 seconds, and then relax. You can perform the stretch three to five times, several times per day.If you feel intense pain in the bottom or top of your foot during the midfoot arch stretch, stop the exercise and consult your physical therapist or healthcare provider.
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Toe and Mid Foot Arch Flexibility StretchBrett Sears, PT, 2012A Lisfranc fracture affects the mobility of your foot’s arch.After the injury and after a period of immobilization, your arch may feel tight, or the tendons that course along the bottom of your foot to your toes may become tight.Stretching your arch and the tendons of your foot is a simple way to improve your overall foot mobility. To do the exercise, place your toes up against a wall with your heel on the floor. Gently press your toes into the wall until you feel a stretch on the underside of your foot. Hold the position for 15 to 30 seconds, and then relax. You can perform the stretch three to five times, several times per day.If you feel intense pain in the bottom or top of your foot during the midfoot arch stretch, stop the exercise and consult your physical therapist or healthcare provider.
Toe and Mid Foot Arch Flexibility Stretch
Brett Sears, PT, 2012
A Lisfranc fracture affects the mobility of your foot’s arch.After the injury and after a period of immobilization, your arch may feel tight, or the tendons that course along the bottom of your foot to your toes may become tight.
Stretching your arch and the tendons of your foot is a simple way to improve your overall foot mobility. To do the exercise, place your toes up against a wall with your heel on the floor. Gently press your toes into the wall until you feel a stretch on the underside of your foot. Hold the position for 15 to 30 seconds, and then relax. You can perform the stretch three to five times, several times per day.
If you feel intense pain in the bottom or top of your foot during the midfoot arch stretch, stop the exercise and consult your physical therapist or healthcare provider.
3Mid Foot Arch MassageSometimes after a Lisfranc fracture, continued pain in the arch of your foot may make walking difficult.You can use theice bottle arch massageto help decrease your pain and massage your arch at the same time.To perform the ice bottle massage, simply freeze a bottle of water. (Be sure the bottle isn’t filled all the way to allow for some expansion.) When the bottle is frozen, sit in a chair and slowly massage your arch over the frozen bottle. You can perform this for a few minutes; just be sure to listen to your body’s cues that tell you when to stop icing.
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Mid Foot Arch MassageSometimes after a Lisfranc fracture, continued pain in the arch of your foot may make walking difficult.You can use theice bottle arch massageto help decrease your pain and massage your arch at the same time.To perform the ice bottle massage, simply freeze a bottle of water. (Be sure the bottle isn’t filled all the way to allow for some expansion.) When the bottle is frozen, sit in a chair and slowly massage your arch over the frozen bottle. You can perform this for a few minutes; just be sure to listen to your body’s cues that tell you when to stop icing.
Mid Foot Arch Massage
Sometimes after a Lisfranc fracture, continued pain in the arch of your foot may make walking difficult.You can use theice bottle arch massageto help decrease your pain and massage your arch at the same time.
To perform the ice bottle massage, simply freeze a bottle of water. (Be sure the bottle isn’t filled all the way to allow for some expansion.) When the bottle is frozen, sit in a chair and slowly massage your arch over the frozen bottle. You can perform this for a few minutes; just be sure to listen to your body’s cues that tell you when to stop icing.
4Calf StretchesBrett Sears, PT, 2014After a Lisfranc fracture and the immobilization period that follows, many people experience calf tightness in the back of their lower leg. This is natural, and the best way to remedy that tightness is to perform calf stretches.The easiest way to stretch your calf is with the runner’s stretch. Simply stand about three feet from a wall, place both hands on the wall, and leave the foot to be stretched behind you with your heel on the ground. Lean toward the wall until you feel a stretch in your calf. Hold the stretched position for 20 to 30 seconds, and then relax. Repeat three to five times.To stretch the soleus muscle of your lower leg, simply perform the runner’s stretch, but bend the knee of the calf you are stretching. This focuses the stretch on the soleus muscle, and you should feel the stretch behind your ankle and heel bone. Again, hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds, and then relax. Repeat three to five times.
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Calf StretchesBrett Sears, PT, 2014After a Lisfranc fracture and the immobilization period that follows, many people experience calf tightness in the back of their lower leg. This is natural, and the best way to remedy that tightness is to perform calf stretches.The easiest way to stretch your calf is with the runner’s stretch. Simply stand about three feet from a wall, place both hands on the wall, and leave the foot to be stretched behind you with your heel on the ground. Lean toward the wall until you feel a stretch in your calf. Hold the stretched position for 20 to 30 seconds, and then relax. Repeat three to five times.To stretch the soleus muscle of your lower leg, simply perform the runner’s stretch, but bend the knee of the calf you are stretching. This focuses the stretch on the soleus muscle, and you should feel the stretch behind your ankle and heel bone. Again, hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds, and then relax. Repeat three to five times.
Calf Stretches
Brett Sears, PT, 2014
After a Lisfranc fracture and the immobilization period that follows, many people experience calf tightness in the back of their lower leg. This is natural, and the best way to remedy that tightness is to perform calf stretches.
The easiest way to stretch your calf is with the runner’s stretch. Simply stand about three feet from a wall, place both hands on the wall, and leave the foot to be stretched behind you with your heel on the ground. Lean toward the wall until you feel a stretch in your calf. Hold the stretched position for 20 to 30 seconds, and then relax. Repeat three to five times.
To stretch the soleus muscle of your lower leg, simply perform the runner’s stretch, but bend the knee of the calf you are stretching. This focuses the stretch on the soleus muscle, and you should feel the stretch behind your ankle and heel bone. Again, hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds, and then relax. Repeat three to five times.
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Ankle and Foot Strengthening Exercises
Once you have regained flexibility and ROM around your foot and ankle, it is time to start working to regain normal strength in your ankle and foot. To do this, you can perform ankle-strengthening exercises with a resistance band.(Your physical therapist can give you a resistance band, or you can purchase one at a local sporting goods store.)
Perform 10 to 15 repetitions of each exercise. You may wish to perform several sets of these exercises each day to maximize the challenge to your ankle muscles.
To strengthen the muscles within your foot, perform the towel scrunch exercise. This exercise helps to form the medial arch of your foot. To do the exercise, place your foot on a towel on the floor and simply use your toes to grab the towel and scrunch it up. Perform 10 to 15 repetitions of the towel scrunch exercise.
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Balance Exercises
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When single-leg balance exercises become easy, you may wish to progress to advanced balance exercises. These exercises may involve using specialized equipment like aBAPS boardor a wobble board, so speak with your PT before starting advanced balance exercises.
7Plyometrics and Jumping ExercisesIf you are an active person who is planning on returning to athletics after your Lisfranc fracture and dislocation, then you may wish to work with your PT on jumping and plyometric exercises. These exercises are designed to improve your ability to jump and land properly, and they are important to work on before returning to running.Plyometric exercises may include:Simple jumping and landing drillsThe drop jump exerciseThe single-leg hop exerciseSince plyometric exercises are advanced and place a high amount of stress and strain on your body, you must consult your PT or healthcare provider before starting them.A Word from VerywellA Lisfranc fracture can be a painful injury that leads to difficulty walking, running, and enjoying your normal activities. Your physical therapist can work with you to devise a specific exercise program that can help you return to your normal activity level quickly and safely.
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Plyometrics and Jumping ExercisesIf you are an active person who is planning on returning to athletics after your Lisfranc fracture and dislocation, then you may wish to work with your PT on jumping and plyometric exercises. These exercises are designed to improve your ability to jump and land properly, and they are important to work on before returning to running.Plyometric exercises may include:Simple jumping and landing drillsThe drop jump exerciseThe single-leg hop exerciseSince plyometric exercises are advanced and place a high amount of stress and strain on your body, you must consult your PT or healthcare provider before starting them.A Word from VerywellA Lisfranc fracture can be a painful injury that leads to difficulty walking, running, and enjoying your normal activities. Your physical therapist can work with you to devise a specific exercise program that can help you return to your normal activity level quickly and safely.
Plyometrics and Jumping Exercises
If you are an active person who is planning on returning to athletics after your Lisfranc fracture and dislocation, then you may wish to work with your PT on jumping and plyometric exercises. These exercises are designed to improve your ability to jump and land properly, and they are important to work on before returning to running.
Plyometric exercises may include:
Since plyometric exercises are advanced and place a high amount of stress and strain on your body, you must consult your PT or healthcare provider before starting them.
A Word from Verywell
A Lisfranc fracture can be a painful injury that leads to difficulty walking, running, and enjoying your normal activities. Your physical therapist can work with you to devise a specific exercise program that can help you return to your normal activity level quickly and safely.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Persiani P, Dario Gurzi M, Formica A, Ruggeri A, Villani C.Fractures and dislocations of the Lisfranc tarso-metatarsal articulation: outcome related to timing and choice of treatment.Acta Orthop Belg. 2019;85(2):150-158.Moracia-Ochagavía I, Rodríguez-Merchán EC.Lisfranc fracture-dislocations: current management.EFORT Open Rev. 2019;4(7):430-444. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.4.180076American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Lisfranc (midfoot) injury.Lopes JSS, Machado AF, Micheletti JK, de Almeida AC, Cavina AP, Pastre CM.Effects of training with elastic resistance versus conventional resistance on muscular strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis.SAGE Open Med. 2019;7:205031211983111. doi:10.1177/2050312119831116Cain MS, Ban RJ, Chen YP, Geil MD, Goerger BM, Linens SW.Four-week ankle-rehabilitation programs in adolescent athletes with chronic ankle instability.J Athl Train. 2020;55(8):801-810. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-41-19Gjinovci B, Idrizovic K, Uljevic O, Sekulic D.Plyometric training improves sprinting, jumping and throwing capacities of high level female volleyball players better than skill-based conditioning.J Sports Sci Med. 2017;16(4):527-535.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Persiani P, Dario Gurzi M, Formica A, Ruggeri A, Villani C.Fractures and dislocations of the Lisfranc tarso-metatarsal articulation: outcome related to timing and choice of treatment.Acta Orthop Belg. 2019;85(2):150-158.Moracia-Ochagavía I, Rodríguez-Merchán EC.Lisfranc fracture-dislocations: current management.EFORT Open Rev. 2019;4(7):430-444. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.4.180076American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Lisfranc (midfoot) injury.Lopes JSS, Machado AF, Micheletti JK, de Almeida AC, Cavina AP, Pastre CM.Effects of training with elastic resistance versus conventional resistance on muscular strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis.SAGE Open Med. 2019;7:205031211983111. doi:10.1177/2050312119831116Cain MS, Ban RJ, Chen YP, Geil MD, Goerger BM, Linens SW.Four-week ankle-rehabilitation programs in adolescent athletes with chronic ankle instability.J Athl Train. 2020;55(8):801-810. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-41-19Gjinovci B, Idrizovic K, Uljevic O, Sekulic D.Plyometric training improves sprinting, jumping and throwing capacities of high level female volleyball players better than skill-based conditioning.J Sports Sci Med. 2017;16(4):527-535.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Persiani P, Dario Gurzi M, Formica A, Ruggeri A, Villani C.Fractures and dislocations of the Lisfranc tarso-metatarsal articulation: outcome related to timing and choice of treatment.Acta Orthop Belg. 2019;85(2):150-158.Moracia-Ochagavía I, Rodríguez-Merchán EC.Lisfranc fracture-dislocations: current management.EFORT Open Rev. 2019;4(7):430-444. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.4.180076American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Lisfranc (midfoot) injury.Lopes JSS, Machado AF, Micheletti JK, de Almeida AC, Cavina AP, Pastre CM.Effects of training with elastic resistance versus conventional resistance on muscular strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis.SAGE Open Med. 2019;7:205031211983111. doi:10.1177/2050312119831116Cain MS, Ban RJ, Chen YP, Geil MD, Goerger BM, Linens SW.Four-week ankle-rehabilitation programs in adolescent athletes with chronic ankle instability.J Athl Train. 2020;55(8):801-810. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-41-19Gjinovci B, Idrizovic K, Uljevic O, Sekulic D.Plyometric training improves sprinting, jumping and throwing capacities of high level female volleyball players better than skill-based conditioning.J Sports Sci Med. 2017;16(4):527-535.
Persiani P, Dario Gurzi M, Formica A, Ruggeri A, Villani C.Fractures and dislocations of the Lisfranc tarso-metatarsal articulation: outcome related to timing and choice of treatment.Acta Orthop Belg. 2019;85(2):150-158.
Moracia-Ochagavía I, Rodríguez-Merchán EC.Lisfranc fracture-dislocations: current management.EFORT Open Rev. 2019;4(7):430-444. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.4.180076
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Lisfranc (midfoot) injury.
Lopes JSS, Machado AF, Micheletti JK, de Almeida AC, Cavina AP, Pastre CM.Effects of training with elastic resistance versus conventional resistance on muscular strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis.SAGE Open Med. 2019;7:205031211983111. doi:10.1177/2050312119831116
Cain MS, Ban RJ, Chen YP, Geil MD, Goerger BM, Linens SW.Four-week ankle-rehabilitation programs in adolescent athletes with chronic ankle instability.J Athl Train. 2020;55(8):801-810. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-41-19
Gjinovci B, Idrizovic K, Uljevic O, Sekulic D.Plyometric training improves sprinting, jumping and throwing capacities of high level female volleyball players better than skill-based conditioning.J Sports Sci Med. 2017;16(4):527-535.
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