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.

Need a shoe with a wide Toebox and support for the outside o

From Forefoot Forum

Need a shoe with a wide Toebox and support for the outside of my arch. Any ideas

taping surgery

Comments (4)

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Community member

forum: Bunions, Hallux Limitus, Tailor's Bunion, Hammer Toes. My pinky folds down and I got a bump below my pinky. All the podiatrists say it is not a tsailors bunion. Idk what to do. 4th toe also curls bad and hurts.

Community member

The best thing that I have found to realign the toes is taping.

Community member

I think you injured it when you had your fall. It looks like a rotated little toe. Unfortunately, I don’t know if anything other that surgery will help it. And even after surgery you may have residual discomfort but hopefully less. Stress to your doctors that you had that fall. I don’t think I relayed the fact that I had an injury well enough when I spoke with doctors. So they did the cookie cutter fixes (neuroma resection and toe shortening) rather than repairing the actual injury (plantar plate) properly.

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