2 screws in broken Tibia, 4 Torn Ankle Ligaments.

[roostinbe]

On september 11 i fractured my tibia right above the ankle, the fracture went all the way through the growth plate, to the joint. I also tore 4 ligaments in that same ankle. I am 4-5 weeks out from being able to ride hard again, and i am just wondering if anyone has any helpful exercises to help build the muscles back up. (they are badly atrophied) i am 15 years old, and am willing to endure pain, if it meens getting back healthy, and able to ride with reckless abandone again. any advice will be much appriciated. I understand that i shouldn't ride until i am properly healed, but i just want to accelerate that as much as possible.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

You need to be patient and allow yourself to heel fully before messing with it. You can't make a break heal any faster but can surely slow the process goofing with it too soon. And worse you could potentially cause permanent problems. Don't worry about the atrophy, once your healed up with a little exercise they'll quickly recover. Afterwards just some simple calf raises to build the muscle along with stretches to regain your range of motion, but in the meantime don't mess with it.

 

[Bulldog]

As the earlier replies stated - be patient. I had 13 pins and 2 plates put in my tibia in 1986. I still have them today and I still race. The biggest problem was the therapy. I was in therapy for 10 months... Good luck and keep smiling.

If you are curious you can see the before and after x-rays look on my website at:
http://www.motocross.com/users/mxpastandpresent/mxpp.htm

Look under the Amatuer pictures, then 1986.

 

[Big Tuna]

Give it time to heal properly, but once it does heal up don't go to crazy trying to strengthen it up train progressively, but give yourself at least 2 or 3 days in between strength training sessions, but don't train like this for to long or you may end up over training. Training each body part once per week is ideal for strength, growth, and avoidence of over training. Do lots of stretching, and do your physio. Listen to your body it will tell you when it's had enough. Anything more than slight discomfort is to much. Remember the last thing you want to do is go backwards.

 

[scotts250]

Ankle

Snapped my achillies tendon on my left leg along with breaking off the calcaneous (heal bone) and tibial plateau. Took about 10 months to heal enough to ride and now 2 years later my calf muscle is only about 80 to 85% as strong as it used to be.
Stretching and strengthening are key. If I don't use my anke actively, it stiffens up. Do toe ups two legged and single legged if possible. Therapy really helped, but I even had a couple of set backs because I tried to do too much too quick then I would be back on crutches for a few days.
Give it time an don't rush. You could risk making it worse.
Scott