Step Progressions | Rehab Strategies Following Lower Limb Surgery

In the video below you will see one of Principle Four Osteopathy clients performing a number of step movements as part of their rehab plan.  The aim of these exercises was to progressively load the lower limb through a range of movements using ground reaction force and the step pattern in gait as the movement.

  • Video 1 – you will see a closed chain (left ankle is the recovering ankle) exercise where one steps forward and back with their right foot.
  • Video 2 – stepping forwards and backwards with the left foot (now requiring adaptation to ground reaction force)
  • Video 3 – frontal plane step, we initially started with the left foot being planted and then progressed to stepping with the left.
  • Video 4 – transverse plane step, we initially started with the left foot being planted and then progressed to stepping with the left.

The aim of this was to complete multiple times per day and performing 5 steps of each pattern, which resulted in 30 reps per foot in the end.

The next place we could look to progress this is throught sets/reps, followed by step distance, speed and height.

This blog post was written by osteopath Heath Williams of Principle Four Osteopathy. Principle Four Osteopathy is one of Melbourne City CBD leading Osteopathy clinics. At the clinic we treat a wide range of clients, ranging from the office worker, exercise enthusiast to athlete. We have 3 experienced osteopaths working across both of the clinics. The Melbourne City CBD clinic is located at 29 Somerset Place (basement), close to the corner of Elizabeth St and Little Bourke in the Melbourne City CBD. Our premises adjoin the Jon Weller Personal Training Studio, a fully-equipped training space which allows clients to combine their osteopathy treatment with exercise tutorials or specific training programs and rehabilitation. The Docklands clinic is located at 717 Bourke St (Ground Floor), beneath the Channel 9 building near the walkway from Southern Cross Train Station to Etihad Stadium. Our premises adjoin Pilates on Bourke, a fully-equipped pilates and yoga training space which allows clients to combine their osteopathy treatment with exercise tutorials, pilates or specific training programs and rehabilitation. To speak to an Osteopath or book an appointment at Principle Four Osteopathy, please book online or call 03 9670 9290.