Case Study: Pilates Rehabilitation for Hammer Toe & Bunion Surgery with Post Op Tendonitis
Client History
Decades of wearing heels for work and life, requiring many hours in heels including platforms and events. Leading to pain in the feet and progressively worse bunion and hammer toe symptoms.
Struggling With
Outcome post op was stiffness, increased pain and discomfort at night, some nerve-like pain and cramping through the foot and calf.
Pilates Exercises
Medium to heavy foot work settings for 3-4 weeks after cleared post op once a week.
Jump board on light spring weight for 5-8 exercises focused on landing and lifting off mechanics.
Jump board on medium spring weight to increase further endurance of the muscles and deeper work in the landing and lift off movements.
Rolling out the feet on a dumbbell or on the footbar on days the feet feel more tired and/stiff.
Focus on adding compression during travels, ice/heat at night as needed and calf raises to warm up the feet before long periods requiring heels for public engagement.
Lower extremity strengthening focused on glutes, hamstrings and lower abdominals to improve overall outcome and decrease compensations that may occur during longer days standing in heels
Outcome
Significant decrease in pain and discomfort 2-3 days after pilates session. Overall improvement in mental and physical abilities with 6 months post op tenoditis decreasing but recommended to do PRP injections when able to by several specialists if pain continues.
