Cycling after ankle fusion

[SuperChick]

Anyone on the hub had a ankle fusion? How did it affect your cycling, both road and off-road? Would appreciate feedback...

[An3]

Why did you have to get a fusion?

 

I had a badly fractured ankle which had to be fixed with a ti bolt.

The result was a 20% reduction in movement.

This never really negatively affected my cycling.

[TALUS]

Road is good. Standing to pedal up is harder. MTB it is harder to hike a bike uphill.

[TALUS]

Age and pre-op condition of pt and pre-op motion of ankle is also nb.

[SuperChick]

Have bad arthritis and cartilage damage in the ankle, tore ligaments a few years back which was repaired, but the cartilage damage was not picked up at the time. Presently just normal walking ranges from painful to excruciating. Orthopedic surgeon is recommending fusion of the ankle.

[sawystertrance]

I have an old injury and although not fused, I have only about 20% of original movement. I can't angle my foot up towards my shin more than a right angle and that affects my pedal strokes. I always get sore lower back and have had bike setups which haven't helped. Thinking of going to a biokineticist to get my pedal action analysed.

Are you riding?

[An3]

Have bad arthritis and cartilage damage in the ankle, tore ligaments a few years back which was repaired, but the cartilage damage was not picked up at the time. Presently just normal walking ranges from painful to excruciating. Orthopedic surgeon is recommending fusion of the ankle.

 

eish - Good luck!

[SuperChick]

I have an old injury and although not fused, I have only about 20% of original movement. I can't angle my foot up towards my shin more than a right angle and that affects my pedal strokes. I always get sore lower back and have had bike setups which haven't helped. Thinking of going to a biokineticist to get my pedal action analysed.

Are you riding?

 

Hi, I rode a lot before the original injury, but not riding presently due to my ankle being so painful. Would love to ride again, as the inactivity is driving me nuts.

[BSG]

I was involved in a little fender bender (head on collision) in '96 on the N1 45km from Kroonstad going to Gauteng. My left foot got inbetween the brake pedal and the firewall, well the result was one smashed up foot/ankle, broken femur, broken right forearm and a little concussion. Mine was fused in such a way that I don't have any sideways movement on the foot/ankle, only up and down. I now also have to wear innersoles/supports with all my shoes, but I haven't tried it with my cycling shoes and I've been cycling on and off from 2006. Well with the mtb or road cycling I can't really say that I've got problems, but when you have to walk on uneven terrain with the cycling shoes you will defininately have some pain afterwards. I also have troubles walking barefoot and one of the biggest problems regarding pain afterwards is walking on the beach.

It definitely is a set back but like everything in life it is something one has to live with and make the best of your situation.

[BSG]

I was involved in a little fender bender (head on collision) in '96 on the N1 45km from Kroonstad going to Gauteng. My left foot got inbetween the brake pedal and the firewall, well the result was one smashed up foot/ankle, broken femur, broken right forearm and a little concussion. Mine was fused in such a way that I don't have any sideways movement on the foot/ankle, only up and down. I now also have to wear innersoles/supports with all my shoes, but I haven't tried it with my cycling shoes and I've been cycling on and off from 2006. Well with the mtb or road cycling I can't really say that I've got problems, but when you have to walk on uneven terrain with the cycling shoes you will defininately have some pain afterwards. I also have troubles walking barefoot and one of the biggest problems regarding pain afterwards is walking on the beach with or without shoes.

It definitely is a set back but like everything in life it is something one has to live with and make the best of your situation.

[TALUS]

I was involved in a little fender bender (head on collision) in '96 on the N1 45km from Kroonstad going to Gauteng. My left foot got inbetween the brake pedal and the firewall, well the result was one smashed up foot/ankle, broken femur, broken right forearm and a little concussion. Mine was fused in such a way that I don't have any sideways movement on the foot/ankle, only up and down. I now also have to wear innersoles/supports with all my shoes, but I haven't tried it with my cycling shoes and I've been cycling on and off from 2006. Well with the mtb or road cycling I can't really say that I've got problems, but when you have to walk on uneven terrain with the cycling shoes you will defininately have some pain afterwards. I also have troubles walking barefoot and one of the biggest problems regarding pain afterwards is walking on the beach with or without shoes.

It definitely is a set back but like everything in life it is something one has to live with and make the best of your situation.

You had a subtalar fusion. One joint down from the ankle. The short answer is that a fusion is never done for a perfect joint. It will not be perfect after either. Very specific goals should be set before surgery (mostly pain relief) and there will always be comprises. The best candidates have very little or no movement and lots of pain. These patients lose very little and gain a lot. Ankle replacement has a very narrow range of indications. For non - weightbearing sport like cycling it may be an option but subject to many provisos.

[BSG]

You had a subtalar fusion. One joint down from the ankle. The short answer is that a fusion is never done for a perfect joint. It will not be perfect after either. Very specific goals should be set before surgery (mostly pain relief) and there will always be comprises. The best candidates have very little or no movement and lots of pain. These patients lose very little and gain a lot. Ankle replacement has a very narrow range of indications. For non - weightbearing sport like cycling it may be an option but subject to many provisos.

I believe you know what you are talking about, are you a dr? I don't know what they did in medical terms and I don't know how it would have been if the op wasn't done. Mine was done the day of the accident and I had wires sticking out of my foot on the side inside the plaster and it was freakin sore when it was removed. But like I said, live throws many curveballs at you and only you yourself can decide your own faith and feature and how you're going to handle your circumstances.

[TALUS]

People that had a fusion due to trauma (directly after the incident) often wonder what would have been if the surgery was not done. Patients that had a long painful history never look back. You should find that boots that fasten above the ankle will help you a lot on uneven ground. I have read a bit on the topic...

[BSG]

People that had a fusion due to trauma (directly after the incident) often wonder what would have been if the surgery was not done. Patients that had a long painful history never look back. You should find that boots that fasten above the ankle will help you a lot on uneven ground. I have read a bit on the topic...

Are you talking about those 3/4 rugby boots like the ones the forwards used to wear in the older days? I've seen a picture of them a while ago.

[BarHugger]

People that had a fusion due to trauma (directly after the incident) often wonder what would have been if the surgery was not done. Patients that had a long painful history never look back. You should find that boots that fasten above the ankle will help you a lot on uneven ground. I have read a bit on the topic...

 

Would be interesting to determine to what extent muscle atrophy has taken place due to limited functional capacity, if any.

[TALUS]

Good quality hiking boots are best. Rugby boots are very slippery on solid surfaces