Ankle replacement is a surgical procedure to replace damaged parts of the bone joint in the ankle with artificial joint parts, notes MedlinePlus. Medical conditions such as arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can damage the joints in the ankle, resulting in loss of movement and severe pain. After the surgery, your doctor may recommend some flexibility and strengthening exercises to strengthen surrounding muscles, improve your balance and coordination, and restore flexibility and range of motion in the ankles.
Ankle Pumps
Ankle pumps will restore mobility, flexibility and range of motion in the ankles. Begin by sitting and then extend both legs in front of you. Move your feet up and down by tilting your toes toward the ceiling and toward the ground. Perform one set of 10 repetitions, three times a day.
Towel Stretch
A towel stretch also helps flexibility and movement in the ankle. Sit on a floor or chair and extend your affected leg in front of you. Form a loop around the ball of your foot with a towel and gently begin to pull that towel towards you chest, ensuring that your knees remain straight. Continue this pull until you feel a stretch. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds and relax.
Gastrocnemius Stretch
Begin by leaning against a wall. Bring your right foot behind you, ensuring that the knee remains straight and the heel is against the ground. Lean forward into the wall until you feel a gentle stretch along your calf muscles. Hold this stretch for 15 seconds and repeat this stretch, this time bring your left foot behind you. Perform one set of 10 repetitions, once daily.
Ankle Circles
Begin this stretch by sitting in a chair or bed so that your affected ankle hangs about two inches from the ground. Separate your toes and hold for five seconds, and then bring your toes back together. Using your toes as a pen, begin to draw small clockwise then counterclockwise circles in the air. Perform circular movements for 15 seconds in each direction and gradually progress to bigger circles, performing circular motions for 15 seconds in each direction. Perform one set of 10 repetitions in each direction, once daily.
References
- MedlinePlus; Ankle Replacement; C. Benjamin Ma, MD; February 2009
- Ohio State University Medical Centr: Ankle Range of Motion Exercises
- Summit Medical Group; Broken Ankle Rehabilitation; Tammy White; 2009
- California State University; ANKLE STRENGTHENING PROGRAM Program Time: 20 min. Recommended: 3x a week Manuel A. Escalante, Jr. BS, ATC, EMT
- Orthopaedic Specialists of North Carolina: Active Ankle and Foot Range of Motion Exercises
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