Peroneus Brevis Rupture Rehabilitation

The rehabilitation guidelines below are for information purposes only. We recommend seeking professional advice before attempting any rehabilation.

Aims of rehabilitation:

The aims of rehabilitation of a peroneus injury can be broken down into separate phases:

• Decrease initial pain and inflammation.
• Improve mobility and flexibility.
• Improve the strength of the joint.
• Re-establish neural control and co-ordination.
• Return to full fitness

Decreasing pain and inflammation

This should start as soon as possible after injury. This phase can last from 2 days to a week (or more) depending on how bad the injury is.

• Rest - this is essential. Use crutches to get about with if necessary.

• Ice - use cold therapy throughout the rehabilitation process. Apply ice for 20 minutes every hour initially for the first day then reduce this to 4 to 5 times a day from then on.
• Compression - use a tube grip bandage or taping. Even better are products that specifically apply compression at the same time as cooling. 
• Elevation - put you feet up and read all about your injury. Elevating the leg will help any swelling run away from the site of the injury. Elevate the leg while icing and for 10 minutes after

Improve mobility and flexibility

This should begin as soon as pain will allow. If it hurts to perform any of the exercises then wait longer until there is no pain.

Stretching the muscles at the back of the lower leg is important. Stretching with both a straight and bent leg will ensure the Peroneus Brevis and Soleus muscles are also stretched properly.
Perform stretching exercises 2 to 3 time a day.
Apply ice / cold therapy after stretching in the early stages of rehabilitation to help reduce any inflammation.

Strengthening the ankle joint

This can begin as soon as exercises can be performed without pain.
Strengthening exercises should be done for all ranges of movement of the ankle, not just the area of injury. This will ensure good all round strength and help to prevent further injuries.
You should be able to maintain fitness by swimming or cycling if pain allows

Re-establish co-ordination

Try balancing on one leg with your eyes closed. This will improve proprioception (the neuromuscular control you have over your muscles). This will have been damaged when you injured the ankle.
A wobble board is a useful piece of kit to have. It is a flat board that you stand on with a semi-spherical bottom. By balancing on this you strengthen the ankle and improve proprioception.

Return to full fitness

When you can comfortably do all of the above then you are ready to start the next phase and begin to return to activity.

• Range of motion exercises and stretching - maintain and improve on what you have done in the previous phase.
• Begin running as long as it is not painful. Start with a gentle jog and gradually build up until you can run pain free for 20 minutes before increasing the speed or fast changes of direction.
• Continue to balance on one leg with your eyes closed. When you can do 2 minutes without wobbling you are getting there.