Expert Knee, Ankle & Post-Fracture Rehabilitation
Surgery is just the start. I design specific recovery roadmaps for knee and ankle injuries that go way beyond basic movements to get you back to your life.
Patience and consistency are everything in rehab. This ACL patient was struggling with a single-leg sit-to-stand. With encouragement and consistent practice, look at the amazing progress he made in just four days. Ho jayega, ho jayega!
This is the day one protocol for a comminuted talus fracture. We start with gentle mobilization of adjacent joints like the phalanges to manage swelling and begin activating muscles in the entire leg, like the quadriceps and glutes, to prepare for weight-bearing.
For a talus fracture, early weight-bearing is contraindicated due to the risk of avascular necrosis. Here, I explain the recovery protocol, which includes activating the glutes with bridging exercises to build support before we can safely start weight-bearing.
In any ankle fracture rehab, we don't rush to weight-bearing. First, we must strengthen the large supporting muscles like the quadriceps and hamstrings. If these muscles are weak, the risk of re-injury is very high.
Extension lag is a common issue after ACL surgery, causing a limp. I use posterior glide mobilizations and terminal knee extension exercises to help the patient regain full straightening of the leg, which is crucial for a normal walking pattern.
Post-fracture mobilization is one of my favorite parts of physiotherapy because the results are so rewarding. Here I am performing elbow mobilization for an olecranon fracture patient using a Mulligan belt. His range improved significantly in just five sessions.
This patient, an aspiring powerlifter, had an elbow fracture. Proper rehabilitation is critical to regain full joint mobility and muscle strength. I am using tactile cues by tapping the skin to improve neuromuscular feedback and muscle activation during his exercises.
This patient had a fracture of the first metacarpophalangeal joint. Since the stitches are still fresh, I am working on the adjacent wrist joint to manage post-fracture stiffness and pain without disturbing the healing area.
This patient came to me on crutches after an ankle injury. We worked on strength, mobility, and balance, and then progressed to functional rehab, which for him meant getting back on his scooter for his livelihood. Physiotherapy is about getting your life back.
This patient came to me six months after a tibia fracture with extreme knee pain because his doctor just gave him two basic exercises. After proper rehab, he is finally on the road to a real recovery. Don't let bad advice delay your healing.
About Knee, Ankle & Post-Fracture Recovery
You might think surgery or the initial healing phase is the finish line, but without a dedicated rehab plan, that knee or ankle will never feel quite right. I see too many patients who performed months of basic exercises only to end up with chronic stiffness and limited range of motion. My approach starts with a detailed assessment to find the root cause, followed by a personalized program—whether it's post-fracture mobilization, ACL rehab, or ligament injury recovery—that actually gets you moving naturally again.
Why Basic Exercises Aren't Enough
I often see patients who come in with 'knee pain' or 'ankle stiffness' because they were given a generic sheet of exercises at the hospital. Those papers are fine for Day 1, but they aren't a recovery roadmap. If you aren't doing progressive loading, mobilizing the joint capsule, and retraining the surrounding muscles (like your glutes and hamstrings), your progress will plateau.
My Approach to Rehab
- Root Cause Diagnosis: We don't just treat where it hurts. If your knee hurts during a squat, we check your hip mobility and ankle mechanics first.
- Manual Therapy & Mobilization: This is the core of my practice. I use Mulligan belt techniques, joint glides, and soft tissue release to unlock stiffness that exercise alone can't fix.
- Active Rehabilitation: You won't just be lying on a table. We work on balance, stability, and sport-specific drills using bands, BOSU balls, and resistance training.
- Fracture Recovery: For injuries like talus or tibia fractures, we focus on safe, progressive weight-bearing. We monitor for signs of avascular necrosis and work within the specific healing constraints of your bone.
The 'Doctor-Patient' Promise
Rehabilitation is a two-way street. I can provide the best manual therapy and the most advanced protocols, but if you don't do the homework exercises, recovery won't happen. I’m here to guide you through the pain and the effort, but you have to show up and do the work. If you are tired of stagnant recovery and want a plan that pushes you safely back to full function, let's get started.
Shruti Raj
I'm Dr. Shruti. I run Ace of Spine in Najafgarh, and frankly, I’m tired of seeing people settle for 'good enough' recovery. I work with patients who want to actually walk, run, and squat pain-free, not just sit on a machine. If you’re ready to do the work, I’m ready to guide you.
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