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After surgery, it's routine to rest for a few days and allow your body to begin the healing process. But after orthopedic surgery on your foot and ankle, it's crucial to begin improving mobility quickly so you can get back to driving, work, and everyday activities.
Post-operative mobility begins the day of your procedure. Preparing yourself before surgery allows your body to be in tip-top shape for optimal healing weeks after. Nutrition, physical therapy, and icing the area help to reduce swelling and get you moving faster.
Dr. Jefferey E. McAlister and Dr. Marta Riniker and the Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute team provide detailed surgical instructions to their patients before undergoing any foot or ankle procedure. Dr. McAlister is a board-certified foot and ankle specialist offering minimally invasive surgical options, total ankle replacements, and cartilage repair.
Many take being able to move freely for granted — until they suddenly can't due to injury or surgery. Mobility is crucial to many everyday tasks, such as walking the dog, getting dressed, and playing sports.
However, mobility can change in an instant, especially after an injury. If you're unable to regain pre-injury movement, we may suggest surgery to help the tissues heal. However, the recovery period is essential to regain foot and ankle mobility.
Post-operative mobility is critical for many reasons. First, the goal after surgery is to get you back to your pre-surgery activities as soon as possible. However, swelling and stiffness set in rapidly, which can slow down the process.
Early movement is essential to optimize mobility after surgery. Although too much movement may cause other problems, some movement is necessary to increase blood flow to the area and prevent adhesions and stiffness from setting in.
Physical therapy is one way we help optimize mobility after surgery. Your physical therapist works directly with you to address specific needs and concerns based on the type of surgery you had and your ultimate goal after recovery.
Believe it or not, enhancing your recovery after surgery begins in the weeks before the procedure. Getting your body in the best shape possible before surgery is vital to allow it to heal optimally afterward.
Nutrition is one of the best ways to ensure a healthy and speedy recovery. Dr. McAlister will discuss how to get the proper nutrients and vitamins before and after surgery to aid the body in this process.
Dr. McAlister has picked several supplements that aid the body in recovering. These supplements are available for purchase at our office and on our website. They promote whole-body wellness, which is crucial during the procedure and recovery process.
We recommend starting these supplements several weeks before surgery and continuing them for three months.
Along with a healthy diet full of whole foods and protein, these supplements provide the body and immune system with the nutrients they need to optimize the healing process and promote a quicker and more efficient recovery.
After surgery, the real work begins. Depending on the surgery you had, you may start physical therapy the day of or after your procedure. Although you may not move the surgical area, mobility involves the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Ice in the first week after surgery is crucial in reducing pain and controlling swelling and inflammation around the surgical site. We offer ice therapy machines that provide cooling relief and compression to speed up the body's healing process, which aids in earlier ambulation.
We also provide pre- and post-op strengthening programs to optimize recovery and use of assistive devices after surgery. A few of the recommended exercises we suggest include:
Stretching is essential right after surgery and throughout recovery to promote blood flow, flexibility, and earlier mobility. We show you how to stretch correctly to avoid pain or compromise the area.
A knee scooter or crutches are another part of the recovery process that gets you moving sooner. You may be non-weight-bearing for a period of time, in which case these assistive devices help you get around to promote full-body healing and enhanced mobility over the next few weeks to months.
Call Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute today to schedule a pre-operative appointment to discuss mobility, or request a consultation on our website.
