Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooAnkle Fracture
Ankle & Lower Leg
What It Is
Broken ankles are commonly called ankle fractures, which means one or more of the bones making up the ankle joint is broken. Fractured ankles range from a simple break in a single bone, which might not stop you from walking, to several breaks, which can force the ankle out of place and may mean you cannot put weight on the ankle for a while. The more bones that are broken, the more unstable the ankle becomes. Ligaments, which hold the ankle bones and joints in their proper position, may be damaged as well (Soles, n.d.).
People of all ages can break an ankle.
Ankle Fracture Anatomy
How Do You Know You Have Fractured Your Ankle?
This can be hard to tell. You may have heard a crack at the time of the injury. The ankle is usually painful, swollen and bruised, and it may hurt to put weight on it, although with a simple break some people can still walk (NHS, 2025; Soles, n.d.). The only way to know for sure is an X-ray (NHS, 2025). If you think you have broken your ankle, get medical advice as soon as possible (NHS, 2025).
Ottawa Ankle Rules
Doctors often use a checklist called the Ottawa ankle rules to decide whether an X-ray is needed. An ankle X-ray is suggested if there is pain around the ankle bones and either tenderness at the back edge or tip of the bony bump on the outside (lateral malleolus) or inside (medial malleolus) of the ankle, or you cannot take four steps. A foot X-ray is suggested if there is pain in the middle of the foot and either tenderness over the navicular bone or the base of the fifth metatarsal (the bone on the outer edge of the foot), or you cannot take four steps (Bachmann et al., 2003).
Causes
Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.
Treatment
Self-Care & Treatment
What to do while you wait to see a doctor
How to Treat an Ankle Fracture
Treatment depends on how bad the break is, and it is decided by your doctor or fracture clinic. If you have a very minor break, you may not need any treatment (NHS, 2025). Follow the advice of your hospital or fracture clinic, including how long to wear a boot or cast and how much weight to put on your ankle (NHS, 2025). A broken ankle usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal, but it can take longer (NHS, 2025).
Treatments your doctor may discuss with you
Tips
- Rehabilitation is important for a full recovery, however the fracture is treated (Soles, n.d.).
- Once your doctor says you can start moving your ankle, home exercises and physical therapy are important (Soles, n.d.).
- Do not put weight on your ankle until you are told you can. Putting weight on it too early can make the broken pieces move (Soles, n.d.).
- Keep your plaster cast dry and do not use anything to scratch under it (NHS, 2025).
- Get medical advice quickly if, while recovering, your pain gets worse, your leg, foot or toes feel numb or like they are burning, the cast feels too tight (your toes look swollen, blue or white), or there is a bad smell or discharge from under the cast (NHS, 2025).
- Even after the fracture has healed, you might need to wear a brace or ankle support for a few months when playing sport (Soles, n.d.).
- Ankle fractures do not always heal perfectly. Whether or not you have surgery, there can be problems afterwards, such as stiffness or ankle pain, especially after exercise. Years later, there is also an increased risk of arthritis (Soles, n.d.).
Treatment
My Approach
My job is to support healing without interfering with it. Your doctor or fracture clinic decides how long you're in a boot or cast and how much weight you can put through the ankle, and I work inside those limits. If your fracture was treated with surgery, or it stops you doing your normal daily activities, I need your medical team's okay before we start any hands-on treatment.
Please bring any X-ray or scan reports and notes from your medical team to your first visit. They're an important part of planning safe treatment for you.
In the Boot or Cast
- Massage for your back, hips and other leg, and your shoulders and arms if you're on crutches
- Gentle lymphatic drainage above the boot or cast to help with swelling, and raising the leg when you can
- Keeping your hip, knee and toes moving, and gently tightening muscles inside the cast if your team allows it
Out of the Boot or Cast
- Hands-on work for the calf, ankle and foot, and gentle scar work once any surgical wound has fully healed
- Warm and cool applications in the clinic for stiff, tired tissue
- Pain-free movement exercises, building to strength, balance and full weight-bearing work
- Stretching and joint mobilisation across the ankle only once your doctor confirms the bone has healed
- Help working out whether you need an ankle support for sport, and how to get one
Back to Full Activity
What to Expect
Typical Course
What I Focus On
Please read
When to See a Doctor First
When to get emergency help
Call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital if, after an injury
- your ankle is at an odd angle
- a bone is sticking out of your ankle
- you have a bad cut or wound on your ankle
- you are in severe pain
- your toes look blue or white, or feel numb
Do not drive yourself; ask someone to drive you or call for an ambulance (NHS, 2025).
Sources
References
- NHS (2025) Broken ankle. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/broken-ankle/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
- Soles, G.L.S. (n.d.) Ankle fractures (broken ankle). American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/diseases--conditions/ankle-fractures-broken-ankle/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
- Bachmann, L.M., Kolb, E., Koller, M.T., Steurer, J. and ter Riet, G. (2003) 'Accuracy of Ottawa ankle rules to exclude fractures of the ankle and mid-foot: systematic review', BMJ, 326(7386), p. 417. doi: 10.1136/bmj.326.7386.417