Ankle Reconstruction Post Surgery Physio Glasgow: Physiotherapy for Ankle Injuries

Not all ankle injuries resolve with ice and rest; some undergo more extreme measures, and surgery is the best option for restoring stability or mobility. Ankle surgery is, for many people, a way to reconstruct the ankle. Without it, the rest of their lives may have been affected by chronic pain and immobility. Whether you've had—or if you're considering—ankle reconstruction surgery, knowing what to expect in the recovery period is vital. We are experts in post-surgery physiotherapy at The Physio Clinic Glasgow, guiding people through the process of re-strengthening, re-movement, and much more to ensure that they are achieving optimal recovery.

What Is Ankle Reconstruction?

Ankle reconstruction is one type of surgery that restores stability, alignment, and function to an unstable or potentially damaged ankle joint. This surgery is usually indicated after significant trauma, severe ligament tears, joint fractures, or chronic ankle instability that has not healed by bracing or physiotherapy.

Why Ankle Reconstructions are Common:

Chronic Ankle Instability: This type often occurs after a persistent history of ankle sprains that have slowly stretched or torn the ligaments.

Severe Ligament Damage: A high-impact injury (like a fall or sports injury) can result in one or more severe ligament tears that will not heal by themselves, often necessitating surgical intervention.

Arthritic Changes or Cartilage Breakdown: For others, the degeneration is permanent. They have chronic problems in the joints, and only an operation will help them.

Ankle reconstruction mainly focuses on restoring or replacing the injured ligaments and tendons, correcting the position of bones, if needed, and providing a proper support system for the ankle. If the ligament is severely damaged, then surgeons may use a graft — a piece of the patient’s own body or a donor’s body — to replace the ligament. Once the structural repair is done, a series of screws or other fixation devices may be employed to hold everything in place while the joint heals.

So, why do we need physiotherapy reconstruction after our ankle surgery?

Though surgery provides the structure, meaningful recovery only gets going with an individualised physiotherapy programme. Re-injury, stiffness and weakness, if not properly rehabilitated, are all potential issues. Enter The Physio Clinic Glasgow, where we come in!

Physiotherapy post-surgery: The different ways it helps

Swelling and Pain Relief: Modality treatments such as manual lymphatic drainage, ice, and compression can help reduce post-operative swelling and pain.

Avoiding Stiffness: Light mobilisations and targeted stretches will keep the ankle from becoming stiff and restore its normal movement patterns, which is crucial for those with arthritis.

Restoring Strength: Progressive strengthening exercises are aimed at the ankle, foot, and even the knee and hip to help active, balanced and stable movement.

Enhancing Stability and Proprioception: After reconstruction, the ankle's sense of position may be compromised. Balance training and proprioceptive exercises teach your brain and body to reconnect with your foot's position, reducing the risk of future injury.

Promoting Circulation and Healing: Movement, even in a limited form, boosts blood flow to the healing tissues, speeding up the body’s natural recovery processes.

Structured physiotherapy can assist in regaining function and achieving stability or any physical target, including the return of daily activities and sports.

How The Physio Clinic Glasgow Can Help Ankle Injuries

At The Physio Clinic Glasgow, we know the frustration of injury and its effect on mental well-being. We understand the importance of keeping you active, not just for your physical health but also for your psychological and social well-being. We offer tailored solutions to our clients and bespoke treatment and rehabilitation programmes.

Physiotherapy Assessment and Treatment for Post-Surgery

With a focus on evidence-based practice, our experienced, fully qualified expert physiotherapists will perform a thorough initial assessment, allowing us to give you a simple explanation for your injury or pain.

Your physiotherapist will guide you through your personalised rehabilitation plan to ensure it meets your needs and fits into your schedule.

Your detailed rehab plan is emailed directly, with a video demonstration and guidance on how to tackle your injury between sessions. We will continue to manage any performance-related issues to get you back to your best quickly.

We welcome any questions between sessions. If you find you have any queries concerning your rehabilitation progress, contact your physiotherapist in the first instance. Your comfort is always our priority, both physically and mentally.

Physiotherapy Review and Exercise

In the review sessions following your assessment, we discuss your injury management, your goals, and how we can achieve them through effective conditioning.

Your recovery progress is continually measured and evaluated, and your recovery plan is modified where necessary to guarantee results. We strive to adapt all of our plans to evolve with your changing requirements.

We will always work through any change in plan with you in our rehab space to ensure the plan works for you and addresses any symptoms effectively. This includes exercise observations and adjustments that we will sign off on once they are spot on.

Sports Massage

Whether it is for recovery or relaxation, our fully qualified massage therapist will be able to deliver a professional sports massage session tailored to your needs. That means you choose the duration, the areas requiring attention, and the intensity.

Choose a 30/45/60/90 slot to suit you. Not sure what's best? Send an enquiry through our 'contact' page!

Telehealth Assessment

Can’t make it into our Glasgow clinic? Not to worry: we can deliver a thorough assessment and plan for you over a video call.

We are pleased that we can now make physiotherapy more accessible for all, as we are well-versed in effective remote pain management and rehabilitation.

If you need help from one of our physiotherapists but cannot make it into the clinic itself, we are only a video call away.