A 32-year-old patient sustained a fibula fracture and underwent standard initial treatment — two months of immobilization in a CAM boot to allow the bone to heal. While the fracture healed successfully, a common and significant secondary challenge emerged: the prolonged immobilization caused severe stiffness, pain, and loss of range of motion (ROM) in the ankle and surrounding soft tissues.
When the patient began physical therapy at Genesis Orthopedics, the clinical picture was challenging:
Minimal ankle ROM — significantly reduced compared to normal function
Significant pain with movement — limiting participation in early PT exercises
Significant soft tissue tightness — from two months of inactivity and immobilization
Functional limitations — difficulty with normal walking, standing, and daily activities
This is a common and often underestimated consequence of fracture immobilization — the healing of the bone is only the beginning. Restoring full function requires dedicated, progressive rehabilitation under the guidance of a skilled physical therapist.
The Genesis physical therapy team designed a progressive, individualized rehabilitation program focused on systematically addressing each barrier to recovery:
Range of Motion Restoration — targeted stretching and mobilization exercises to gradually restore ankle and lower leg flexibility
Pain Management — manual therapy techniques and modalities to reduce pain and allow more effective exercise
Soft Tissue Mobilization — hands-on techniques to address tightness and adhesions in the surrounding muscles, tendons, and fascia
Progressive Strengthening — structured resistance exercises to rebuild ankle, calf, and lower leg strength
Functional Movement Training — balance, proprioception, and gait training to restore normal walking and daily movement patterns
Patient Education — guidance on home exercise program and activity progression to support recovery between PT sessions
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