The rehabilitation of the feet
Rehabilitation
This is, above all, for the forefoot, an Auto-Rehabilitation. You will therefore take charge of your forefoot and your role is Critical in preventing possible stiffness.
This will allow you to quickly mobilize your toes every day, and several times a day. It will begin once the pain has clearly decreased. In case of the presence of pins for claw toes, we will wait for the removal of these.
The “tailor position” allows relaxation of the muscles of the sole of the foot (by putting the other leg hanging on the edge of the bed or chair).
First the passive mobilization of the toes is done with the index finger pushing the base of the toe down, the thumb holding the foot down.
Then the active mobilization is done by keeping the toes down without putting the index finger on the toe. This allows the active work of the tendons of the sole of the foot. The same gesture is then made upwards. Your surgeon will explain it to you in consultation, immediately after the operation, and then in post-operative consultation.
These movements should be done at least 3 times a day (ideally every 2 hours, before frosting the foot), with a minimum of 10 movements per toe. They will be done in series of 10 times, 10 seconds down, then 10 seconds up.
The first 3 weeks
Control of edema and inflammation
Your foot is undergoing surgery: it will tend to swell and this edema is harmful because it delays the healing. So to avoid it, it needs to be drained by positioning your feet at the heart level, so you need to be lying down.
Our advice
At night: Slightly raise the feet of the bed.
Day: Rest on a long chair, minimum 3 hours per day. Use ice on the forefoot bandage to avoid venous congestion ( by a gel bag provided by your pharmacist, or better by » 500 grams of frozen peas «), and this for a period of 15 minutes that will have to be renewed every 2 hours.
Walking and riding skills
The support of the forefoot on the ground is painful and harmful. With the heel support shoe, the forefoot is protected and you must use the shoe for all your movements. For the shower, it will be done sitting on a stool with the leg out.
However, walking is limited to 3 or 4 hours a day. This shoe will be kept for about 3 weeks.
At the end of the 3rd week
Consultation
The re-habilitation is checked, you will be able to fully press your front foot and then quickly wear open-toed, adjustable shoes on top. Since the suture threads are reabsorbable, we wont remove them from you.
1 month to 1 year
The edema will slowly subside and then disappear (I advise you to bathe cold and salty water or sea water), The postoperative stiffness of the toes will decrease, but you must continue your rehabilitation.
For sports activities, cycling and swimming are allowed after 6 weeks, jogging and contact sports are allowed after 3 months. You will gradually recheck yourself as you wish.
We wish you well!