Physical therapy is an important aspect of joint injury treatment for the promotion of range of motion, ROM, within the joint and the procurement of muscle strength in the affected area. Ankle fractures can be a highly painful injury for many patients, including the therapy treatment plan needed to fully rehabilitate the joint. This pain can subside over time, however, as your ankle begins to grow in both strength and flexibility.
Definition
Ankle fractures, according to the University of Michigan Health System, "range from relatively minor twisting injuries to those associated with violent disruption of the ankle." Pain and swelling can accompany a fracture of any bone, however the location and function of an ankle joint can cause increased pain when walking for moving the foot. Therapy exercises geared toward ankle fracture recovery can increase pain in the short-term due to the functionality of the ankle joint.
Swelling
As the University of Michigan states, your ankle can experience swelling after a fracture for up to nine to 12 months following the injury. Swelling can be accompanied by a great deal of pain, which may be made worse during the physical therapy treatment process. Your physical therapist is likely to manually move your ankle joint as a means to regain any lost ROM following the injury, which can prove to be sensitive.
Stretching Exercises
As the Fox Valley Orthopaedics rehabilitation protocol suggests, your ankle fracture therapy can include numerous weeks of stretching exercises that may cause an increase in initial pain around your ankle. Seated calf stretches, foot ROM movements, and therapist-induced manual mobilizations are necessary components of the ankle fracture protocol. As such, any swelling or tenderness in your ankle can cause pain during this process.
Weight Bearing
Your therapy program will also include eventual weight bearing exercises to assist you with walking re-education as your ankle fracture continues to heal. Adding weight onto a tender or sensitive ankle joint can also cause pain from the start. However, this pain should lessen over time as your lower extremity muscles become stronger. After the sixth week of therapy you should be able to walk fully on your ankle with little to no discomfort.
