Rehab Protocols For A Foot Fracture

Foot fracture is a term used to describe a wide range of injuries that occur when you damage the bones in your toes, mid-foot or heel. Some foot fractures are relatively minor, while others involve full breaks in the affected bones. Rehabilitation protocols, or guidelines, vary with the severity and location of your injuries.

Types of Fractures

Stress fractures are minute, hairline fractures that can appear in any part of your foot. Potential sources of this type of injury include repetitive foot stress, foot deformities, osteoporosis and use of ill-fitting footwear. Acute fractures, also called traumatic fractures, occur when you experience a direct, sudden foot injury. Sources of this type of injury include collisions in contact sports and motor vehicle accidents. In some cases, an acute fracture causes a dislocation or displacement of the broken bone ends; in other cases, the bone involved in an acute fracture does not displace or dislocate.

Stress Fracture Rehab

If you have a stress fracture, typical steps in a rehabilitation protocol include allowing your fracture to heal properly, maintaining and increasing your foot flexibility and mobility, strengthening your foot and lower leg and restoring you to normal fitness. Techniques for healing your fracture include rest and the use of crutches. Techniques for improving mobility and flexibility include special exercises for the affected foot and general stretches for your foot and lower leg. Strengthening exercises typically focus on the small muscles in your foot and larger muscles in your lower leg. A return to normal fitness typically occurs as the gradual result of the rehabilitation process.

Mid-Foot Fracture Rehab

If you break a bone in the middle of your foot, you may have few problems performing your everyday tasks, but still have significant problems various forms of physical labor. Components of a rehabilitation protocol for this type of injury include training on how to walk properly, weight-bearing exercises, range-of-motion exercises, strengthening exercises and proprioception exercises, which improve your body awareness during movement. In addition to exercises performed with the help of a physical therapist, you may also perform your rehab exercises at home. In some cases, your doctor or therapist may ask you to wear protective footwear during rehabilitation.

Heel and Toe Fracture Rehab

Components of a rehab protocol for an acute heel fracture include early movement of your foot and ankle after surgery; special exercises designed to restore your strength, flexibility and mobility; and weight bearing exercises that you can perform once your injured bone heals sufficiently. If you break your toe, potential exercises in a rehabilitation routine include passive range-of-motion exercises, heel raises, standing toe raises and towel pickups, which require you to grasp and lift a towel with your toes. Ask your doctor and physical therapist for more information on protocols used for the rehabilitation of your specific type of foot fracture.