Physical Therapy for a Broken Ankle

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms and CausesTreatmentPhysical TherapyExercisesDuration of PTFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms and Causes

Treatment

Physical Therapy

Exercises

Duration of PT

Frequently Asked Questions

Abroken anklecan severely limit your ability to perform basic functional tasks likerunningand walking. This painful injury can cause loss of lower extremity strength, range of motion, and pain. These impairments can make performing your normal everyday activities difficult or impossible.You may benefit from physical therapy (PT) after a broken ankle to help you fully recover functional mobility and to return to your previous level of activity.Verywell / Cindy ChungAnkle Fracture Symptoms and CausesYour ankle is a joint where the talus bone of the foot connects to the tibia (shin bone) and fibula of the leg. 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. Automobile accidents, falls, and sports injuries can all lead to ankle fractures. Common signs of an ankle fracture include pain, swelling, bruising, and an inability to bear weight on the 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.TreatmentWhile at the hospital following an ankle fracture, your healthcare provider may attempt toreducethe fracture. Fracture reduction is the term used to describe how a bone is fixed or set after it’s broken.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. This immobilizes the ankle and allows the bones to heal properly.Many times after anankle fracture, you will require some sort ofassistive deviceto walk.You may also be under specificweight-bearing restrictions. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider how much weight you are allowed to put on your ankle as it heals.How Does It Feel When a Broken Bone is Healing?Physical TherapyOnce your fracture is reduced and immobilized, you may be referred to physical therapy to learn how to possibly use an assistive device like crutches, acane, or awalker. Your physical therapist should also be able to help you understand your weight-bearing restrictions.Gentle exercise for the muscles of thekneeandhipmay be performed to ensure that the muscle groups that help you walk do not get too weak while the fracture heals. If you are in a cast or a brace, most likely you will not be performing exercises for your ankle.After your fractured ankle has healed, your healthcare provider will remove the cast and allow you to bear more weight on your ankle. You may be using an assistive device like aquad caneor crutches to walk.At this point, your physical therapist can fully evaluate your ankle to help provide the proper treatment. Components of the ankle evaluation may include:GaitRange of motionStrengthSwellingPainAfter a thorough evaluation, your physical therapist can begin providing treatment. He or she may use therapeutic modalities like heat, ice, orelectrical stimulationto help treat swelling or pain around your ankle.What to Expect From Physical TherapyExercisesAn ankle fracture exercise program should be the main component of yourankle rehabilitationfollowing a fracture.Be sure to follow your physical therapist’s directions closely and ask questions if you have any.Exercises for ankle fracture rehabilitation may include:Exercises forankle range of motionAnkle strengthening exercisesHip and knee exercises (to help improve walking ability)Balance and proprioception exercisesExercise to improve functional mobility and walking abilityYou’ll most likely be required to perform a home exercise program for your broken ankle. This program may continue for several months after physical therapy has stopped, and the program may be an important component in your long-term rehab success.Wolff’s lawstates that bone grows and remodels in response to the stress that is placed upon it. Your physical therapist can help prescribe exercises that apply the right stress in the correct direction to ensure that maximal bone healing occurs and that your fractured ankle will function properly.Gait trainingwill also be important following an ankle fracture. Your physical therapist can help you progress from using an assistive device to walking independently.If you have had surgery to reduce your ankle fracture, there may bescar tissuearound the incision. Your physical therapist can performscar tissue massage and mobilizationto help improve the mobility of the scar. He or she can also teach you how to perform scar massage techniques on your own.Physical Therapy After a FractureHow Long Will Physical Therapy Last?Everyone heals differently, and everyone’s ankle fracture injury is different. Your physical therapist should discuss with you your overall prognosis with your ankle fracture rehab. This prognosis typically depends on how well your ankle is moving when you first start rehab.In general, physical therapy for a broken ankle lasts about 6 to 8 weeks. Your personal experience with PT may be shorter or longer depending on your specific injury.Continuing your home exercise program is a component of your rehabilitation. Being diligent with it can help you regain function and get back to the activities you have been missing.A Word From VerywellAn 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.Frequently Asked QuestionsIf you don’t need surgery, you might be able to walk on your own within six to eight weeks. If your fracture did require surgery, you may get a walking cast after two weeks; four to six weeks later, you may be able to apply some weight and be moved to a cast with a walker or crutches. It may then be a few more weeks before you can fully bear your weight and walk without any aids.Learn MoreWhen Can I Start Running After an Ankle Fracture?Begin with range of motion exercises. A physical therapist can maneuver your ankle at first. Then you will begin exercises on your own such as pointing your toes and moving your foot in and out. These may be slightly painful as you get used to moving the joint again, but they should not cause severe or lasting pain.Learn MoreRehabilitation for a Broken Ankle

Abroken anklecan severely limit your ability to perform basic functional tasks likerunningand walking. This painful injury can cause loss of lower extremity strength, range of motion, and pain. These impairments can make performing your normal everyday activities difficult or impossible.

You may benefit from physical therapy (PT) after a broken ankle to help you fully recover functional mobility and to return to your previous level of activity.

Verywell / Cindy Chung

Ankle Fracture Symptoms and Causes

Your ankle is a joint where the talus bone of the foot connects to the tibia (shin bone) and fibula of the leg. 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. Automobile accidents, falls, and sports injuries can all lead to ankle fractures. Common signs of an ankle fracture include pain, swelling, bruising, and an inability to bear weight on the 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.

While at the hospital following an ankle fracture, your healthcare provider may attempt toreducethe fracture. Fracture reduction is the term used to describe how a bone is fixed or set after it’s broken.

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. This immobilizes the ankle and allows the bones to heal properly.Many times after anankle fracture, you will require some sort ofassistive deviceto walk.

You may also be under specificweight-bearing restrictions. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider how much weight you are allowed to put on your ankle as it heals.

How Does It Feel When a Broken Bone is Healing?

Once your fracture is reduced and immobilized, you may be referred to physical therapy to learn how to possibly use an assistive device like crutches, acane, or awalker. Your physical therapist should also be able to help you understand your weight-bearing restrictions.

Gentle exercise for the muscles of thekneeandhipmay be performed to ensure that the muscle groups that help you walk do not get too weak while the fracture heals. If you are in a cast or a brace, most likely you will not be performing exercises for your ankle.

After your fractured ankle has healed, your healthcare provider will remove the cast and allow you to bear more weight on your ankle. You may be using an assistive device like aquad caneor crutches to walk.

At this point, your physical therapist can fully evaluate your ankle to help provide the proper treatment. Components of the ankle evaluation may include:

After a thorough evaluation, your physical therapist can begin providing treatment. He or she may use therapeutic modalities like heat, ice, orelectrical stimulationto help treat swelling or pain around your ankle.

What to Expect From Physical Therapy

An ankle fracture exercise program should be the main component of yourankle rehabilitationfollowing a fracture.Be sure to follow your physical therapist’s directions closely and ask questions if you have any.

Exercises for ankle fracture rehabilitation may include:Exercises forankle range of motionAnkle strengthening exercisesHip and knee exercises (to help improve walking ability)Balance and proprioception exercisesExercise to improve functional mobility and walking ability

Exercises for ankle fracture rehabilitation may include:

You’ll most likely be required to perform a home exercise program for your broken ankle. This program may continue for several months after physical therapy has stopped, and the program may be an important component in your long-term rehab success.

Wolff’s lawstates that bone grows and remodels in response to the stress that is placed upon it. Your physical therapist can help prescribe exercises that apply the right stress in the correct direction to ensure that maximal bone healing occurs and that your fractured ankle will function properly.

Gait trainingwill also be important following an ankle fracture. Your physical therapist can help you progress from using an assistive device to walking independently.

If you have had surgery to reduce your ankle fracture, there may bescar tissuearound the incision. Your physical therapist can performscar tissue massage and mobilizationto help improve the mobility of the scar. He or she can also teach you how to perform scar massage techniques on your own.

Physical Therapy After a Fracture

How Long Will Physical Therapy Last?

Everyone heals differently, and everyone’s ankle fracture injury is different. Your physical therapist should discuss with you your overall prognosis with your ankle fracture rehab. This prognosis typically depends on how well your ankle is moving when you first start rehab.

In general, physical therapy for a broken ankle lasts about 6 to 8 weeks. Your personal experience with PT may be shorter or longer depending on your specific injury.

Continuing your home exercise program is a component of your rehabilitation. Being diligent with it can help you regain function and get back to the activities you have been missing.

A Word From Verywell

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.

Frequently Asked QuestionsIf you don’t need surgery, you might be able to walk on your own within six to eight weeks. If your fracture did require surgery, you may get a walking cast after two weeks; four to six weeks later, you may be able to apply some weight and be moved to a cast with a walker or crutches. It may then be a few more weeks before you can fully bear your weight and walk without any aids.Learn MoreWhen Can I Start Running After an Ankle Fracture?Begin with range of motion exercises. A physical therapist can maneuver your ankle at first. Then you will begin exercises on your own such as pointing your toes and moving your foot in and out. These may be slightly painful as you get used to moving the joint again, but they should not cause severe or lasting pain.Learn MoreRehabilitation for a Broken Ankle

If you don’t need surgery, you might be able to walk on your own within six to eight weeks. If your fracture did require surgery, you may get a walking cast after two weeks; four to six weeks later, you may be able to apply some weight and be moved to a cast with a walker or crutches. It may then be a few more weeks before you can fully bear your weight and walk without any aids.Learn MoreWhen Can I Start Running After an Ankle Fracture?

If you don’t need surgery, you might be able to walk on your own within six to eight weeks. If your fracture did require surgery, you may get a walking cast after two weeks; four to six weeks later, you may be able to apply some weight and be moved to a cast with a walker or crutches. It may then be a few more weeks before you can fully bear your weight and walk without any aids.

Learn MoreWhen Can I Start Running After an Ankle Fracture?

Begin with range of motion exercises. A physical therapist can maneuver your ankle at first. Then you will begin exercises on your own such as pointing your toes and moving your foot in and out. These may be slightly painful as you get used to moving the joint again, but they should not cause severe or lasting pain.Learn MoreRehabilitation for a Broken Ankle

Begin with range of motion exercises. A physical therapist can maneuver your ankle at first. Then you will begin exercises on your own such as pointing your toes and moving your foot in and out. These may be slightly painful as you get used to moving the joint again, but they should not cause severe or lasting pain.

Learn MoreRehabilitation for a Broken Ankle

2 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.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Broken bone.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Ankle fractures (broken ankle).

2 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.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Broken bone.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Ankle fractures (broken ankle).

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.

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Broken bone.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Ankle fractures (broken ankle).

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Broken bone.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Ankle fractures (broken ankle).

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?