People undergo foot surgeries for many different reasons. Sometimes, in the case of acute injuries like a crush injury or a fracture, foot surgery becomes an emergency and the focus of physical therapy will be on recovery after the fact. Many other surgeries, however, may occur after a period of conservative care and chronic symptoms which provides some time to participate in a course of prehabilitation. While there are quite a few different types of foot surgeries, here are some of the more common types of foot surgeries our patient undergo:

• Morton’s Neuroma Surgery
• Plantar Fasciitis Release
• Bunion Repair
• Hammer toe Reconstruction
• Fracture repair
• Tendon transfer

WHY NOT WAIT UNTIL AFTER SURGERY?

In non-emergency foot surgery, you often have the time to consider a round of prehabilitation before the procedure. Many people are not surprised to hear that physical therapy will be needed after their foot surgery to help the foot recover and to restore normal function but fewer people are familiar with how they can benefit from working with a physical therapist in anticipation of undergoing surgery. Here are some of the reasons why prehabilitation can be helpful:

In the case of a chronic injury or problem, muscle weakness, joint stiffness and other impairments may have developed as a result of this long standing issue. This can worsen further following surgery, especially if a period of non weight bearing or immobilization is required. Prehabilitation can help address as many of these impairments as possible beforehand to give you a headstart on recovery and help prepare your body for the stress of surgery

Prehabilitation gives your therapist an opportunity to set expectations for surgery and recovery

It can also get you into a routine of therapy exercises and activities which will help you stick with a routine post-surgery

In the case of a prolonged wait time for therapy, prehabilitation may be able to manage some symptoms like pain and inflammation to make you more comfortable

If you decide to work with a physical therapist to help with pre-hab foot surgery issues, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20+ different physical therapy sessions that will each last 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your PT sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM PHYSICAL THERAPY AFTER SURGERY?

The exact progression of your recovery will depend on the type of surgery you had. Some surgeries will require a period of foot and/or ankle immobilization to allow tissues to heal sufficiently before any stress is applied to them, while other surgeries will benefit from a more active recovery approach right away. Right after your surgery your physical therapist may use modalities, manual therapy techniques or gentle passive range of motion to address pain and inflammation and to preserve motion. As you progress through your recovery and the surgical site is allowed to undergo more stress, your program will likely include some of the following types of treatment in order to achieve your maximal level of function:

Strengthening: Restoring strength and endurance to the muscles around the foot, ankle and lower leg is an important part of post-surgical rehabilitation. It will reduce the risk of re-injury and help you return to your prior level of function.

Stretching: Stretching is often needed after a surgery to restore normal joint motion and muscle length but needs to be done carefully to prevent disruption of the healing process.

Neuromuscular Re-education: This type of treatment is used to improve the motor control and coordination of muscles around the foot and ankle so they function well and remain stable and strong during everyday activities.

Gait training: This type of treatment involves learning how to walk normally again following the surgery.

Balance: Balance is often affected by a foot or ankle injury and surgery, and you will likely be practicing balance exercises under a number of conditions following the surgery.

Power and Agility: In the late stages of post-surgical rehab it is important to address power and agility so that you can jump, run, cut and so forth.

Sport-specific Tasks: For athletes returning to sport, sport-specific exercises will be incorporated later on in your rehabilitation to prepare the foot for the demands of returning to play

Having any type of surgery can feel daunting but my team of physical therapists and I are here to help make that process as smooth as possible. Call Evolve today to get started on your recovery from foot surgery.