After foot or ankle surgery you may be in a boot, on crutches and unsure what you're allowed to do. Rehab helps you walk well again, one step at a time, within your surgeon's plan.
Physical therapy helps you recover after foot and ankle surgery. After an ankle fracture repair, Achilles tendon repair, ankle ligament reconstruction or bunion surgery, guided rehab helps bring back motion, strength, balance and a normal walk. Every step follows your surgeon's protocol, including how much weight you can put on the foot and when. At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist.
Does this sound like you?
✓You've had foot or ankle surgery, or have it scheduled
✓You're in a boot, or using crutches or a walker
✓Your ankle or foot is stiff, swollen or weak
✓You're walking with a limp, or don't trust the foot yet
✓Stairs, uneven ground or standing for a long time are still hard
✓You want to get back to work, sports or long walks
Common foot and ankle surgeries
Ankle fracture repair: plates and screws to hold a broken ankle in place while it heals. See fracture recovery.
Achilles tendon repair: stitching a torn Achilles tendon back together. The tendon is protected for a period, and your surgeon decides when it can be stretched and loaded.
Ankle ligament reconstruction: repairing or tightening the ligaments on the outside of the ankle, often for an ankle that keeps giving way after repeated sprains. See ankle sprain and Achilles pain.
Bunion surgery: correcting the bones of the big toe joint. You may walk in a special shoe or boot for a while, as your surgeon directs.
What rehab works on
Every surgery and every surgeon's protocol is different, so your plan is built around yours. Rehab usually covers:
Weight-bearing, as your surgeon directs. Many people start with little or no weight on the foot, then move to partial and then full weight. Only your surgeon decides when to move to the next stage. We help you use crutches or a walker safely and make each change smoothly.
Swelling control. Raising the leg, compression and gentle movement, within your surgeon's limits.
Range of motion. Getting the ankle, foot and toes moving again once you are allowed.
Strength. Rebuilding the calf, foot, knee and hip muscles that weaken while you are in a boot.
Balance. Surgery and time off your feet affect balance, and balance training helps you feel steady again.
Walking. Moving from the boot to a shoe and walking without a limp, when your surgeon clears you.
How long does recovery take?
It depends on the surgery, how the bone, tendon or ligament is healing, your health and activity level before surgery, and your surgeon's plan. We don't promise timelines. Instead, we track your progress at each visit and share it with you, so you can see how far you have come. If your surgery is still ahead, a few visits beforehand can help you prepare. See prehab before surgery.
What treatment at ARI looks like
1
A one-on-one evaluation
Your first visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We review your surgeon's protocol and precautions, then check swelling, motion, strength and how you are walking, and ask about your goals.
2
Motion and strength
Swelling control, gentle range of motion, and progressive strengthening for the foot, ankle and leg, with weight-bearing increased only as your surgeon allows.
3
Back to activity
Balance training, walking without aids, stairs and uneven ground, then work, sport or the activities you enjoy, step by step, with a home program to keep you going.
No referral needed to start. In California, you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage; call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.
When to see a doctor first
Call your surgeon or get emergency care if you have:
Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath: call 911
Calf pain, swelling or warmth, which needs urgent attention to rule out a blood clot
Fever, or redness, warmth, drainage or opening at the incision
Numbness or tingling, or toes that are pale, blue or cold
Pain or swelling that suddenly gets much worse, or a cast or boot that feels too tight
After Achilles repair, a pop or sudden pain at the back of the heel, or sudden weakness pushing off
Why patients choose ARI
Care at ARI is always one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist at our Bakersfield clinic: 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite B2, in the Town & Country Village center next to Trader Joe's. Our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.
Foot and ankle surgery rehab FAQs
It depends on your surgery and your surgeon. Some people start while still in a boot, others a little later. Bring your surgeon's protocol and precautions to your first visit.
Only your surgeon can decide that, based on your surgery and how it is healing. Your therapist follows those instructions and helps you move safely at each stage.
Swelling after foot and ankle surgery is common and can come and go for a long time, especially at the end of the day or after being on your feet. Raising the leg, compression and regular movement can help. Tell your surgeon if swelling suddenly gets worse.
That depends on your surgery and your surgeon's clearance. Before you return, your therapist checks your strength, balance and control, and builds your activity back up step by step.
No. In California you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage, so call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.