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Removal of arthrodiastasis exercise programme

This resource has been designed to help you remember the exercises your therapist taught and practiced with you. The exercises should be done slowly and smoothly. You may have some discomfort while doing these exercises after your surgery.

If pain limits your ability to do your exercises, then timing them around your pain relief may be helpful. However, if the pain becomes worse please seek advice from a healthcare professional and stop the exercises.

How many times should I do these exercises?

It is recommended that each exercise should be repeated 10 times and be done a minimum of 3 to 4 times a day. Make sure the exercises are staggered throughout the day.

How do I manage my swelling?

Swelling is common in the first few weeks following an injury or surgery. Elevating your foot will be necessary. Proper elevation means your foot should be positioned above the level of the heart. You can use pillows or cushions at home to do this.

What happens next?

You may continue to be seen for therapy at Sheffield Children’s Hospital or you may be referred for ongoing treatment at a local Trust. However, it is important to continue with the exercises you have been given during your inpatient stay until you are seen by outpatient physiotherapy. This will make sure you get the best outcomes for your rehabilitation journey.

Exercises

Ankle pumps

  1. Start lying on your back with your legs straight and together.
  2. Bend and straighten your ankles by pointing your toes down towards the bottom of the bed or floor
  3. Pull your toes up as far as you can.

Foot Flexing downFoot flexing up

Repeat 10 times.

Static quads (knee squashes)

  1. Start lying on your back with your legs straight and together.
  2. Push your knee down firmly towards the bed or floor and keep your toes pointing upwards.
  3. Hold for 5 seconds then relax your leg.

Photograph of person laid on their back with their legs outstretched, pushing their knee backwards and into the surface they are laid on

Repeat 10 times.

Inner range quads

  1. Start lying on your back with a rolled towel under your knee.
  2. Point your foot and toes upwards.
  3. Straighten your knee as much as you can whilst keeping your knee still and stable on the roll, lifting your heel off the bed.
  4. Hold for 5 seconds then relax your leg.

Photograph of person laid on their back with their legs outstretched and a rolled up towel under one of their knee, keeping their leg straight, and raising their leg up, keeping their ankle flexed so their toes point up

Repeat 10 times.

Knee bends

  1. Start lying on your back with your legs straight and together.
  2. Bend your knee as far as possible by bringing your heel towards your bottom then straighten.

Photograph of person laid on their back with one leg outstretched and the other knee up and bent, with their foot resting beside their other knee

Repeat 10 times.

Hip flexion (knee to chest)

  1. Start lying on your back with your legs straight and together.
  2. Bend your hip as far as possible by bringing your knee towards your chest then straighten.

Photograph of person laid on their back with one leg outstretched and the other leg raised, bent at the knee and bringing their knee towards their chest

Repeat 10 times.

Static glutes (bottom squeeze)

  1. Start lying on your back and squeeze your bottom firmly together.
  2. Hold for 5 seconds then relax.

Photograph of person laid on their back with both legs outstretched and squeezing their bottom

Repeat 10 times.

Hip abduction (scissor)

  1. Start lying on your back with your legs straight and together.
  2. Bring your leg out to the side, keeping it straight with your knee and toes pointing upwards.
  3. Return it back to the starting position.

Photograph of person laid on their back with their legs outstretched and keeping their toes, knees and hips in a straight line

Photograph of person laid on their back with both legs outstretched and bringing one leg out to the side from the hip, keeping their leg straight

Repeat 10 times.

Inner thigh stretch (butterfly)

  1. Start lying on your back with your knees and hips bent and your feet flat on the bed.
  2. Place the soles of your feet together and let your knees fall apart until you feel a stretch in your inner thighs.
  3. Hold for 5 seconds.

Photograph of person laid on their back with their knees raised and their feet comfortably near their bottom

Photograph of person laid on their back with their knees comfortably near their bottom, and their knees wide apart, stretching at the hips

Repeat 10 times.

Prone lying (tummy time)

  1. Start lying on your front.
  2. Keep your hips straight and knees together as much as your are able.
  3. Lie on your tummy for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Photograph of person laid on their front with their legs outstretched relaxed

Repeat 2 times daily.

Prone lying outer thigh stretch

  1. Start lying on your front with your knees and feet together and bent at 90 degrees angle.
  2. Let your feet gently fall out to the side until you feel a stretch on the outer thigh.
  3. Hold for 5 seconds then return to the starting position.

Photograph of person laid on their front with their knees together and bent at 90 degree angles, with their feet to their sides

Repeat 10 times.

Prone lying (knee bend)

  1. Start lying on your front.
  2. Keep your hips straight and knees together as much as you are able.
  3. Bend your knee as far as possible by bringing your heel towards your bottom, keeping your ankle flexed.
  4. Hold for 5 seconds then relax.

Photograph of person laid on their front with one leg extended and the other leg bent at the knee with their foot in the air

Repeat 10 times.

Prone lying (leg lift)

  1. Start lying on your front.
  2. Keep your hips straight and knees together as much as you are able.
  3. With your knee bent, lift your foot towards the ceiling and lower it back down.

Photograph of person laid on their front with one leg extended and their other leg's knee slightly lifted off the surface and with their foot in the air

Repeat 10 times.

With your knee straight lift your foot towards the ceiling then lower.

Photograph of person laid on their front with one leg extended and their other leg's knee in the air slightly and their foot extended behind themselves

Repeat 10 times.

Seated knee bends

  1. Sitting upright on a chair.
  2. Slowly bend your knee as much as possible.
  3. Return to the starting position.

Photograph of person sat upright on a seat or bed, letting their legs dangle off the edge of the surface

Repeat 10 times

Walking

Any change to your weight bearing status will be advised by your orthopaedic consultant or physiotherapist.

Contact us

Therapy number: 0114 271 7148
Ward number: 0114 271 7394

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Disclaimer

Please note: this is a generic information sheet relating to care at Sheffield Children’s NHS FT. These details may not reflect treatment at other hospitals. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professionals’ instructions. If this resource relates to medicines, please read it alongside the medicine manufacturer’s patient information leaflet. If this information has been translated into another language from English, efforts have been made to maintain accuracy, but there may still be some translation errors. If you are unsure about any of the guidance in this resource or have specific questions about how it relates to your child, always ask your healthcare professional for further advice.

Resource number: PT65

Resource Type: Article

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Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TH

United Kingdom

Switchboard: 0114 271 7000

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