When should I start physical therapy after bunion surgery?

Most surgeons recommend starting physical therapy 3-4 weeks after surgery, once initial wound healing has progressed. However, gentle range-of-motion exercises may be encouraged even before formal PT. Always follow your surgeon's specific protocol before starting PT.

What exercises help recover faster from bunion surgery?

Common PT exercises include: toe flexion and extension, ankle pumps, gentle calf stretches, toe spreads using a towel, walking progressions, balance exercises, and intrinsic foot muscle strengthening. The specific exercises depend on the recovery phase and your surgeon's recommendations.

How long does physical therapy last after bunion surgery?

Most patients do PT for 4-8 weeks, with 2-3 sessions per week. However, the full recovery period is longer, and self-directed exercises should continue for several months. Some patients benefit from longer PT if they have stiffness or balance issues.

Do I need to do exercises at home after physical therapy?

Yes. Home exercise compliance is crucial for optimal recovery. Most PTs provide a home exercise program that should be done daily or several times per week. Consistent home exercises often determine the difference between good and excellent outcomes.

Hello! I'm trying to decide between surgical options or no s

From Forefoot Forum

Hello! I'm trying to decide between surgical options or no surgery. I'm 57 years old and have lots of travel and other plans for being active. Problem: painful toes (15+ years) and metatarsal ball of foot (since last fall). Cause of pain: 1) toes stepping on the bottoms of their neighboring toes causing painful sores and 2) prominent metatarsals taking too much impact, leading to stress fractures.

chaco surgery

Comments (7)

Alignment of the foot is dictated by connective tissue not the skeleton. If you debone a fish, it does not change form. The fact that 3 different doctors have 3 different surgical plans, for me, is a red flag.

Community member

Have you tried a shoe with a rocker bottom and a carbon plate or really stiff sole that it doesn't bend? I have walked on my little toe for many years and finally went to wide width shoes even though I don't need a wide width and my toes have naturally spread enough.

Community member

I had a Taylor's bunion and had surgery on it back in January of this year. During surgery, the surgeon broke my 5th metatarsal, shortened it and added a plate and screws along with a bone graft from my heel. I TOTALLY underestimated the recovery. Foot surgery is no joke.

Community member

You might consider doing one of the online foot programs like Gait Happens or Petra Fisher. There is a lot of free content. Wearing minimalist/barefoot shoes has shown me WHERE my gait issues are.

Community member

Your feet sound like mine. I use toe separators...you can find various ones on Amazon, and wear Chaco Z sandals and boots. If I wear them most of the time, I can wear other shoes some of the time.

Community member

ALL surgery carries risk. And that's the risk you take if anyone messes with your feet. Think long and hard about having surgery. It may make things worse. I've read far too many post-surgery foot horror stories.

Community member

I have a new diagnosis for my ongoing metatarsal pain - Morton's neuroma. According to my new doctor yesterday's MRI shows no evidence there was ever stress reactions/fracture as was my prior diagnosis.

Community member