Post-Surgical Foot & Ankle

From boot and crutches back to real-life walking.

Foot and ankle surgery is a big deal. You’ve made it through the operation, the boot, maybe crutches or a scooter… and now you’re wondering:

“Why is it still this stiff?”
“When will I trust this leg again?”
“How do I get from here back to work, hiking, or sports?”

That middle part—between surgery and feeling normal again—is precisely where Timpanogos Physical Therapy comes in. We help you move from healing to living again, with a plan that fits your body, your surgery, and your goals.

Foot & ankle surgeries we commonly see

We routinely rehab people after:

Ankle fractures with plates/screws (ORIF)
Ankle ligament repairs/reconstructions (e.g., Broström)
Achilles tendon repairs
Peroneal tendon repairs or debridements
Plantar fascia surgeries
Bunion and forefoot surgeries (bunionectomy, osteotomies, etc.)
Fusions (hindfoot, midfoot, ankle)
Other foot/ankle procedures where pain, stiffness, and weakness are hanging around longer than you expected

We follow your surgeon’s protocol, respect all precautions, and then layer in our tools and experience to help you get the most out of it—not just “check the boxes.”

Common post-surgical struggles

Most people after foot/ankle surgery deal with some mix of:

Swelling that seems to refill as soon as you’re on your feet
Stiffness in the ankle, foot, or toes
Weakness and “no confidence” when you put weight on it
“Weird” sensations: pulling, tightness, numb patches, tenderness around scars
A limp that won’t go away, even when you’re out of the boot
Fear of re-injury or “messing up the surgery”

Totally normal. But you don’t want to stay there.

Our approach: phase-by-phase, not guess-by-guess

We’ll always honor your surgeon’s timeline, then build a plan around it that’s actually practical.

Phase 1: Protect, calm, and get things moving (safely)

In the early stages, we focus on:

Swelling and pain control
Helping you move within your restrictions (weight-bearing rules, boot, brace, etc.)
Gentle range of motion work for the ankle, foot, and toes as allowed
Keeping the rest of you (hips, knees, core, opposite leg) from getting stiff and weak

We’ll teach you simple things you can do at home so it doesn’t feel like progress only happens in the clinic.

Phase 2: Restore motion & normalize walking

As you’re cleared to put more weight through the leg, we’ll work on:

Improving ankle and foot mobility so each step feels smoother
Gait retraining – getting rid of the limp, learning to trust the leg again
Balance and weight-shift drills so your brain and body know it’s okay to load that side
Gentle strengthening that respects healing tissue but doesn’t baby it forever

This is where a lot of people get stuck on their own. Our job is to guide you through the “awkward middle” between boot and regular walking.

Phase 3: Strength, power & return to what you love

Once healing allows, we gradually progress:

Strength – calves, foot intrinsic muscles, hips, core (all the stuff your ankle depends on)
Balance and agility – single-leg stability, uneven surfaces, direction changes
Impact and sport-specific work – jogging, jumping, cutting, pivoting, if that’s your world

Whether your goal is walking the neighborhood, chasing kids, working on your feet, or getting back to running and sports, we’ll build toward your finish line—not just “good enough.”

Where our technology fits in

Shockwave therapy

Post-surgically, shockwave therapy can be a powerful tool once you’re cleared and tissues are ready for it. We may use shockwave for:

Stubborn tendon pain (Achilles, peroneal, posterior tibial, plantar fascia region) after the main healing phase
Lingering plantar heel pain following plantar fascia surgery
Areas of chronic tightness or scar-like thickening that won’t quite calm down

Shockwave helps by:

Decreasing localized pain and sensitivity
Supporting tissue remodeling and circulation
Making strengthening and walking progressions more tolerable

It’s not for everyone, and it’s not for the very early stages—but when the timing is right, it can be a significant accelerator.

EMTT (Electromagnetic therapy)

We also use EMTT (pulsed magnetic field therapy) as an emerging tool to support:

General foot/ankle recovery and circulation
Muscles that are over-guarding around the surgical area
Long-standing irritability that makes loading and rehab harder than it needs to be

EMTT is comfortable, non-invasive, and typically used as a supportive add-on to your active rehab—not a stand-alone fix.

Red & near-infrared light therapy

Red and near-infrared light can be used around the foot and ankle to:

Support tissue recovery
Ease post-session soreness
Promote a healthier environment for healing

It’s a relaxing way to finish a session and can be especially lovely when you’re in that “I’m doing more, but it’s still touchy” phase.

Hands-on care & exercise: the foundation

Your plan will also include:

Manual therapy – gentle joint mobilizations and soft-tissue work for the ankle, foot, and surrounding areas to help with stiffness and comfort
Scar management – teaching you how to safely care for and mobilize your scar once it’s ready
Targeted strengthening – calves, feet, hips, and core so your ankle isn’t doing all the work
Balance and proprioception training – so your foot and ankle know where they are in space again
Education – what’s normal, what’s not, and how to progress activity without overdoing it

We’ll always explain the “why” behind what we’re doing, and we’ll adjust your program to how you’re actually responding—not just what the paper says.

What progress can look like

Over time, you can expect to:

Notice less swelling and end-of-day throbbing
Regain smoother, more confident walking
Feel stronger and less guarded when you go up/down stairs or on uneven ground
Return to work, hobbies, sport, and daily life with more trust in your foot and ankle

Everyone heals at a different speed, but you don’t have to guess your way through it.

Ready to get the most out of your surgery?

Surgery fixed (or stabilized) the structure. Now it’s time to restore how you move and feel.

Schedule a post-surgical foot & ankle rehab evaluation with Timpanogos Physical Therapy, and we’ll build a clear, step-by-step plan—using clever progressions, hands-on care, and tools like shockwave, EMTT, and red light therapy when appropriate—to help you move from boot and bracing back to the life you actually want to live.