Broken ankles: Average recovery time and 4 factors that may speed up your healing

Referred to as ankle fractures by medical professionals, broken ankles are common lower limb injuries, affecting 5 in 10,000 persons annually. They are also more likely to happen in older women and younger men. 

Whether from a fall, sports, or normal activities, a broken ankle can greatly impact your day-to-day routine. If not properly treated, these types of injuries can even take a negative toll on your physical and mental health. It’s important to understand factors (like physical therapy) that can speed up recovery and help you get you back on your feet.

How long can it take to recover from a broken ankle?

Recovery times for broken ankles can vary a lot. Depending upon the level of injury, your break can be either complicated or uncomplicated. Fortunately, for those with uncomplicated breaks, you may only require realignment and temporary casting/bracing (immobilization) to be fully recovered. Other, more complicated breaks may require surgery and additional rehabilitation. Depending upon the amount of physical therapy needed, it could take up to a year or more for full recovery.  

Your recovery is not going to happen overnight. Fortunately, you do not need to go through your recovery alone. Working with a physical therapist can provide you the peace of mind in knowing that you are taking the right steps toward your recovery. 

4 factors that may speed up your healing

• Early intervention 

When it comes to your health, time is of the essence. Seek immediate medical advice to ensure you receive proper initial treatment. Immobilization is common following a break. Through the use of casts and braces, the ankle area is temporarily stopped from moving to allow for proper healing. During this time, it’s important to prioritize rest and avoid any extra strain to the ankle. 

• Range of motion pre-injury 

After immobilization, the range of motion in your ankle may become limited, creating tight muscles. Having a good, flexible range of motion prior to injury may speed up the rate by which your muscles recover. Additionally, you can help prevent future injuries by maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle that supports movement. 

• Overall health 

Take control of what you can. Some factors like pre-existing conditions, age and genetics are outside of your control. However, maintaining a healthy diet and active lifestyle prior to injury, one that prioritizes rest and nutrition, can help you bounce back in recovery. You can also focus on remaining as active as possible and maintaining a healthy diet during your recovery, too. Doing so can help your body be in the best possible state to support your ankle recovery.

• Treatment plans 

Depending on the complexity of your ankle fracture, you may not benefit from additional rehabilitation. However, if you’re one of the many that have a complicated fracture, you will most likely end up working with a physical therapist to help create a personalized treatment plan. Fortunately, plans can vary widely, offering a range of care that can best suit your needs, such as supervised strengthening and stretching exercises, manual therapy and other therapeutic treatments. 

Treatments that KC Rehab offers to help you recover from ankle fractures

• Aquatic therapy 

To avoid placing unwanted pressure on the ankle, aquatic therapy offers a low impact solution to patients to help reduce joint and soft tissue swelling. Water is a helpful healing tool, and aquatic therapy can also increase your range of passive and active motion.

• Soft-tissue mobilization 

A form of manual therapy involving hand movements from a physical therapist to help release muscle tension and increase tissue flexibility. Your ankle may be stiff and less mobile following surgery, and this form of therapy offers a gentle way of increasing your ankle’s range of motion using massage-like movements. 

• Dry needling 

Through this technique, a certified practitioner will place very thin needles in the affected areas to help release trigger points that may be causing tight muscles. This treatment is also common for those who experience chronic ankle instability or ankle related injuries.

• Stretching exercises 

Stretching is a simple, yet effective tool in your recovery process. Most treatments actually recommend incorporating therapeutic stretching exercises throughout the recovery process to help maximize the benefits of the given treatment. 

For treatments to be their most effective, it's always important to fully follow the safety protocols and guidelines outlined by your physical therapist. 

Here at KC Rehab, we understand how important it is to get you back up and running. No two breaks are the same and that means the care you receive shouldn’t be the same as someone else’s either. That’s why our physical therapists create recovery plans that are customized to your injury and specific needs. Our friendly team is made up of certified physical therapists who are ready to make your recovery their top priority. 

Don’t wait! Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.