Exercises following Femoral Lengthening surgery

The ward physiotherapist will visit you after your operation to teach you the following exercises. It is very important to start moving and strengthen your muscles after surgery. This will aid your recovery. Try to do your exercises a minimum of three times each day, on the ward and at home. Please do not attempt any of these exercises until you have been advised to do so.

Ankle dorsiflexion with a bandage

Lying on your back, wrap a bandage around the bottom of your foot and hold both ends of the bandage in your hands. Keeping your knee straight, gently pull your toes towards your shin using the bandages. You should feel a stretch in your calf. Hold for 5 slow counts. Repeat 10-20 times.

Static quads

Lie on your back in a sitting position with your legs out straight. Bend your ankles and push your knees down firmly against the bed by tightening your thigh muscles. Hold for 5 slow counts. Repeat 10-20 times.

Static quads

Lie on your back in a sitting position with your legs out straight. Bend your ankles and push your knees down firmly against the bed by tightening your thigh muscles. Hold for 5 slow counts. Repeat 10-20 times.

Static glutes

Lie on your back. Squeeze your buttocks firmly together. Hold for 5 slow counts. Repeat 10-20 times.

Knee flexion (assisted)

Lie on your back with the sliding sheet under your leg to start. Bend and straighten your hip and knee by sliding your foot up and down the board. Repeat 10-20 times.

Hip abduction (assisted)

Lie on your back with the sliding sheet under your leg. Bring your leg out to the side keeping your knee and foot pointing up to the ceiling. Then return it to a mid-position. Repeat 10-20 times.

Inner-range quads

Place a rolled up towel under your knee. Lift your heel and straighten your knee. Hold for 5 slow counts. Repeat 10- 20 times.

Hip flexion (in sitting)

Sit in a chair. Lift your knee up towards the ceiling and hold for 5 slow counts. Repeat 10-20 times.

Knee flexion (assisted in sitting)

Sitting on a chair, slide the foot of your operated leg under the chair as far as you can. Then slide the knee straight. A plastic bag can be used underneath the foot to make this easier. Repeat 10-20 times.

Knee extension (in sitting)

Sitting on a chair or side of the bed. Tighten the thigh and try to lift the leg up until your knee is straight. Hold for 5 slow counts and slowly lower. Repeat 10-20 times.

Straight leg knee stretch (in sitting)

Sitting on a chair with the operated leg supported on a stool as shown on the picture. Let the knee straighten in this position. 

Straight-leg raise

Pull your toes towards you. Push the back of your knee down on to the bed. Lift your leg straight up about 6 inches off the bed. Hold for 5 slow counts. Repeat 10- 20 times.

Hip extension (in prone)

Lie on your front with your legs straight behind you. Keeping your leg straight, lift your foot a few inches off the bed. Hold for 5 slow counts. Repeat 10-20 times.