Can someone tell me what kind of "toe exercises" they did after bunion surgery? - Foot Problems Message Board

Maya49 · 09-24-2003, 09:32 AM

Hello everyone,
I am 9 weeks post-op from bunion surgery and have read alot about toe exercises in the posts. What kind of exercises did you do?...would really like to do them and maybe that will help with the swelling and mobility? Anything that you can suggest or share with me will be most appreciated....Thanks!

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~~Maya~~

crankyc · 09-24-2003, 12:48 PM

Hi, Maya,
At about post-op week 6 the podiatric surgeon who did my surgery showed me an exercise to restore normal range of motion in the big toe. It worked so well for me that he didn't even need to send me to an outside physical therapist. Sitting in the examining chair with my leg outstretched, the Dr. pushed my big toe toward me, downward as far as it would go, practically at a 90-degree angle, and held it there. I let out a shriek and kicked with my other foot. If he was standing any closer there would have been an injury. (He would be singing soprano, if you catch my drift!) When he told me to do a set of 12, 3x a day, I didn't think it was possible at first. In the beginning I could only push the toe a little, but it really started loosening up after I tried it for about a week or so. Here's how it's done: Grab your big toe & gently push it downward, toward your ankle (not away from it). Hold it there for as long as you can (preferably for a count of 10), then release it. Do this exercise 11 more times. I started with one set a day, and most days I find I can only do 2 sets, but it still worked wonders. Just start slowly, and do as many as you can. If you really can't deal with it, find a physical therapist to work with you, because it's important to have as near-normal r.o.m. in the big toe as possible.
Chris

crutches · 09-24-2003, 02:15 PM

Hi, I am over 3 months post op and have been going to physio for about 6 weeks now with not much progress. My toe won't bend down, but has flexibility bending up. My PT is concerned that he can't get the toe to have anymore flexibility. I went back to my podiatrist and he wasn't concerned, told me it's the sesamoid bones that are stopping the toe from bending down and to give it 6 months that it will loosen up eventually. Then he said at 6 months if it's no better he can give me a shot (cortisone I think) to loosen the joint up. Has anyone else heard of this or had the toe so stiff? It doesn't lay flat on the ground. Doesn't bother me at all when wearing shoes but barefoot I still have the golf ball feeling and it feels uncomfortable to walk without shoes (not painful though). The toe is still quite numb too. Any one else had this? I'm not
totally unhappy with my foot, it's much better than it was just wondering if this is normal.

Maya49 · 09-24-2003, 03:40 PM

Hi cranky,
Thank you for that...I tried it..I hope I did it right...grabbed big toe and bended it toward me, held it for the count of 10..released and did about 10 more times? It was not painful, but toe does not really bend that far either and was not about test the waters beyond that...am I doing this right?
Thanks....

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~~Maya~~

bigbadfeet · 09-24-2003, 05:05 PM

Hi

I'm 16 days post op from an Austin Bunionectomy and my surgeon gave me the exercise to do on my one week follow up visit. It consists of pushing the toe downward (firmly but gently) for a count of 10 and then pulling it upward for a count of 10. Do this ten times, at least three times a day. He said I could do it all day if I felt like it...haha. I was told to hold on to the foot below the toe joint with the other hand ( ball of foot area) to stabilize and help to focus the stretch in the right place. I went back to the doctor today and he is very pleased with the mobility of my toe. I told him I'm trying to be a model patient. :-)