Post-operative Rehabilitation Progression

We encouraged the patients to initiate rehabilitation (e.g., toe- and leg-lifting exercises) that did not substantially aggravate their pain as soon as possible. Two weeks postoperation, all the patients underwent short leg cast immobilization and began knee joint exercises. Four weeks postoperation, ankle exercises started to increase proprioception, plantar flexion, inversion and eversion. Six weeks postoperation, patients were instructed to begin partial weight-bearing exercise. Using a heel pad with a thickness between 3 and 3.5 cm, they practiced walking on crutches. Twelve weeks postoperation, the heel pad was replaced with one of 2 cm in thickness, and the patients began taking full weight-bearing walks without crutches. Sixteen weeks postoperation, the heel pad was removed, enabling the patients to practice walking normally, with gradual improvement. Twenty weeks postoperation, they could begin low-impact exercise. Twenty-eight weeks postoperation, according to their recovery situation, the surgeon determined when they could begin recreational sports.