Exercises for Big Toe Following Bunion Surgery

Sheldon Nadal DPM shows a patient range of motion exercises following minimally invasive bunion surgery at his podiatry office in Toronto, ON.
www.footcare.net
501-586 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, ON M4P 1P2
[phone]
"When you have minimally invasive bunion surgery, or any bunion surgery, we like to make sure that you can get as much motion and mobility in the big toe joint as possible after the surgery. So today, we're going to instruct our young patient on how to do range of motion exercises. I'm going to put a little X right here and right here. And what you do is you use your opposite hand - so, since this is a left foot I'm going to use my right hand - two fingers under the big toe, and my thumb on the first X. And I'm going to raise the toe as high as it will go and hold it there for a minute. After a minute is up, I'm going to switch directions and I'm gonna put my two fingers under the first X and my thumb on top of the second X and I'm gonna press down as low as it will go. As low as the big toe will go. And hold that for a minute. We alternate a minute up and a minute down for six minutes twice a day until I tell the patient to stop. That will keep the joint moving and help to prevent stiffness."

[@JRHAZEJR]

Ty ty...I just had surgery and my doctor told me this today but seeing this was better than his verbal instructions 🏄🏽‍♂️

[@PC4ever]

Thank you so much, it helped.

[@Peace43587]

had my stitches removed today and im afraid to move it

[@user-mb9jx5tx9y]

After how many weeks

[@chloevidrio649]

i had a very invasive surgery about a week ago, and i am so afraid to move it

[@Linthediel]

I have had 2 surgeries in 3 months because the first one failed. double bunioctomy..on the second surgery my new doc put K wires in so he told me not to try and move my toe.. now after 6 weeks the k wires were removed and i began to walk but my joint is SO STIFF and can't bend.. should i try these excercises ?:(

[@lissettesantiago7667]

How long after the bunionectomy do we engage in these exercises

[@jcline87]

Will this work with a fused joint at the ball of the foot?

[@bbygrlpt2]

Thank you for that video! Im starting to do some toe excercise but my toe is very stiff..is it normal to hurt when i try to bend it?

[@sheldonhnadaldpm9807]

bbygrlpt2 It is quite normal to experience discomfort post operatively when doing toe range of motion exercises. The discomfort should gradually diminish over time.

[@EecoHeartGlow]

the sooner youre able to start the better! (give docs approval!)

[@PatiwKalifornii]

hello, should i wait until i get the stichies removed or can i do this excercise right away? It's been a week since my surgery and i can not move my toe and dont even try to cuz it feels very stiffed. Is 2-3 weeks after surgery a good time to start these excercises?

[@ReneeUnrated]

patypaty wait until you get your stitches out because you can risk tearing the stitches

[@Peace43587]

yes its best to wait after your stitches are removed after 2 weeks

[@lesliebarroso8945]

Depends on doctor's instructions; had my 4 day post op appointment today & my doctor already had me start bending my toe up & down; even with stitches on. He told me this was crucial to start ASAP; if the bone stiffs up too much sometimes even leads to a second surgery he said

[@valeriepaul6348]

Hello, I live in the state of Ohio. I have been thinking about this surgery but him an avid tennis player, and I also like to run, walk, workout. How long does recovery take? I'm afraid of being sidelined for a year at the age of 5e. I also don't want to get fat because I can't do anything and I am in my 50's. I have no issue playing tennis for 2+ hours. My issue is finding shoes that I like. I try to buy wide width which does help. When I have to wear heels it's not as pleasant but I've managed. Do I have surgery just because I don't like the way my foot looks and because I can't wear all the types of shoes I want or should I be in pain? The bunion does not hurt - I'm just afraid of swelling and complications and not being active the way I want . Any good recommendations for doctors in the Cleveland Ohio area?

[@saggigirl1205]

Valerie Paul, did you get any recommendations? Im recovering from a bunionectomy and have another scheduled. I’m from Cleveland, OH

[@austinjoseph2881]

I wouldn't get the surgery unless you have legitimate pain. It has many risks of stiffness and inability to move

[@tonyfitnessmotivation]

I ruined my foot with lapiplasty bunionectomy. My toes is permanently stuck now. They fuse your first cuneiform and first metatarsal joint and that negatively effect your toe joint. These surgeries will create so much problems you did not have before

[@Hanniekinz]

Dr. Nadal, I'm doubt you still check this page but a response would be appreciated. I had bunion surgery on June 23 (today is August 4) and my big toe is very stiff. It's not super painful but it worries me that my range of motion isn't all there. Will I Gain this back? Another thing I've noticed is when I curl by toes, my foot shakes uncontrollably. I'm not sure why this happens. Unfortunately my doctor only gave me one or 2 exercises to work on. Should I ask about PT?

[@ReneeUnrated]

Hannah Marie yes it might be something wrong with the exercises you were doing but it's better to get the PT

[@Caraboo900]

Hi I know I’m super late but I just had surgery 12 days ago. My surgeon just took my bandages off and said to do this and she showed me and did it to me and let me tell you the searing pain I felt when she did it is indescribable. I’m terrified to do it again because two days later, I’m still hurting from when she wiggled it. She barely moved it and it hurt SO bad. I don’t want to lose my range of motion and I know I need to start doing this but the pain is so extreme. I assume it’s a mixture of everythinf plus nerves trying to heal. Any advice?

[@user-mb9jx5tx9y]

Were you able to start walking after two weeks ?

[@Caraboo900]

@@user-mb9jx5tx9y Hello! I walked up the stairs to my apartment the day I had surgery! I was just in a walking boot so it didn't hurt. I was in the boot for 8 weeks then I could walk without it.

[@elizabethw9633]

Dear Dr Nadal, how long after the surgery should you begin doing these exercises?

[@sheldonhnadaldpm9807]

Range of motion exercises can be started as soon as one week following your procedure at your podiatrists discretion. Please check with your podiatrist or surgeon regarding range of motion exercises before starting an exercises.

[@Nicole-zi5zn]

Sheldon H Nadal, DPM it's been 6 weeks and my doctor never told me to exercise. I got out of the boot yesterday. I noticed my toe was stiff so I you tubed. How will lack of exercise effect me since I'm just now starting after 6 weeks?

[@joo3764]

@@Nicole-zi5zn what is your update? I'm in the same boat as you were at this point

[@francessteffen1913]

@@joo3764 I got out of the boot and started therapy 4 weeks after minimally invasive surgery. My Dr. is no help what so ever! Threw me a paper with one exercise on it. Had to call and go in for a little more guidance. How are you doing now 6 months later? Forgot to mention, I'm at the 6 weeks mark now.

[@joo3764]

@@francessteffen1913 well... Long story short found out from a different Doctor that I didn't need the surgery. But what's done is done. It's healing fairly well