J.
Chris Coetzee, MD
Patrick B. Ebeling, MD
Ankle Ligament Reconstruction Rehabilitation Protocol
This protocol provides you with general guidelines for initial stage and progression of
rehabilitation according to specified time frames, related tissue tolerance and directional
preference of movement. Specific changes in the program will be made by the
physician as appropriate for the individual patient.
****Please fax initial assessment and subsequent progress notes directly to
MOSMI at 952-944-0460.***
REMEMBER: It can take up to a year to make a full recovery, and it is not unusual to
have intermittent pains and aches during that time!
Phase I: Weeks 1-2
Goals
Rest and recovery from surgery
Control swelling and pain
Increase ADL (Activities of daily living)
Guidelines
PWB (partial weight bearing) to FWB (full weight bearing) in cast.
Sutures removed @ 10 -16 days. Back into a cast for another 4 weeks
Education: surgery, healing time, anatomy, rehab phases
Encourage ADL
Rest and elevation to control swelling
Control pain
Hip and knee AROM
Phase II: Weeks 3-6
Goals
Allow healing while maintaining upper body, core, hip/knee strength and ROM
Guidelines
WB as tolerated with or without crutches in Air Cast Boot
Massage for swelling
Elevation to control swelling
@ 6 weeks: after being removed from the cast: begin gentle AROM (Active range
of motion)ankle PF(plantar flexion)/DF(dorsiflexion)/eversion and toe
flexion/extension
Stationary bicycle with Air Cast boot
4010 West 65th Street, Edina, MN 55435
Phone: 952-944-2519 Fax: 952-944-0460 www.mosmi.org
Core exercises
- abdominal recruitment
- bridging on ball
- ball reach
- arm pulleys or theraband using diagonal patterns
Hip: AROM
- strength: clam, sidelift, glut max, SLR (straight leg raise)
Knee: AROM
- strength: SLR, theraband press or leg machine
Stretching: glut max, glut med, piriformis, rectus femoris, hamstrings
Phase III: Weeks 7-10
***WILL BE DETERMINED WITH YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPIST***
Goals
WB with pain and swelling controlled.
Guidelines
Will be provided with an ankle brace and can start rehab
Stationary bicycle
AROM: - begin inversion/eversion
- continue with ankle PF/DF, toe flex/extension
Continue with
core exercises progress to standing exercises
hip strength exercises
knee strength exercises
Manual mobilization to joints not part of ligament reconstruction
Phase IV: Week 11-12
Goals
Full ROM
Guidelines
In regular shoe
Still wearing the ankle brace
Control swelling +/- pain with elevation or modalities as required
AROM in WB
Manual mobilization as required
Muscle stimulation
- intrinsics
- invertors/evertors if required
Gait training
Continue strengthening core, hips and knees
Proprioceptive training: single leg stance on even surface
4010 West 65th Street, Edina, MN 55435
Phone: 952-944-2519 Fax: 952-944-0460 www.mosmi.org
Phase V: Week 13-16
Goals
Full ROM in WB
Good single leg balance
Near full strength lower extremity
Guidelines
Still to use the ankle brace for certain sport specific activities (ie: basketball)
Proprioceptive training
- single leg stance on even surface with resistance to arms or WB leg
- double leg stance on wobble board (wb), Sissel, fitter
- single leg wb, Sissel, fitter with resistance to arms or NWB leg
Strength
- toe raises, lunges, squats
- hopping, skipping, running @ 14+ weeks
- manual mobilizations if required
Phase VI: Week 16+
Goals
Full functional return to work +/or activity
Guidelines
Continue to build endurance
Work specific or activity specific training
Plyometric training
4010 West 65th Street, Edina, MN 55435
Phone: 952-944-2519 Fax: 952-944-0460 www.mosmi.org
