Broken Ankle Rehabilitation Exercises

The following exercises are to be performed when your broken ankle has stopped swelling. These exercises will help to increase the range of motion of your ankle. If pain persists while performing these movements, it may be necessary to discontinue them. If you are not sure it is the right time for you to do rehabilitation exercises, consult your physician.

This exercise can start with your body positioned either lying down or sitting up. In either case, bend your knee so that your knee cap is facing the ceiling. Begin by moving your ankle up and down. Try to point your toes toward your head then away from yourself. Next, move your ankle around in slow circles. Move only your foot and ankle; your knee and leg should stay still. Do these movements a total of 10 repetitions for each direction; this means you should move your ankle upward, downward and side to side 10 times each.

Start this exercise with your body in a sitting position with both legs stretched out in front. Place your feet so that they are the same distance apart as your shoulders. Put one foot in the loop of a piece of rope (or a rubber strap), then you want the rope to go around one foot completely and also wrap around the opposite foot. The other end of the rope will be held in your hand so that you can provide resistance. The movement will start with you moving the foot wrapped in the rope slightly upward and out. Do not move the other foot. Keep it still so that the rope will provide some resistance to the foot in motion. Go back to the starting location and begin again. Complete three sets of 10 repetitions.

This ankle exercise starts with you sitting down with your legs extended directly in front of yourself. Position your legs so that one leg is crossed over the other. Wrap an elastic band (or piece of rope) around your lowermost foot. Continue to wrap the band so that it is looped around the top foot as well. Grab the other end of the elastic band and hold it in your hand. Slightly turn your lower foot up and in so that the elastic band begins to stretch. When finished, move the foot back to its starting location. Complete three sets of 10 repetitions.