Exercises for Patients with a Circular Frame

The circular frame is applied to a limb to allow it to heal, or to correct deformity, or to lengthen the leg, or a combination of all of these.

When a limb is injured, muscles waste away, and joints can become stiff if they are not used. This can occur after planned surgery for correcting deformity or lengthening of a bone, and not just after the damage from an injury.

You can help your limb by performing exercises to keep the muscles strong and to keep your joints mobile. This is important for ALL frame patients.

Patients who are having a bone lengthened are at a high risk of developing joint stiffness. The muscles don’t stretch just because the bone underneath is being stretched. Often they stay shorter than they should be, and the knee or ankle joint can become stiff, and stuck in a particular position. The knee joint tends to get stuck in a bent position. The ankle tends to get stuck with the foot pointing downwards. These problems can be prevented by performing exercises. Your physiotherapist will try to help you, and you can attend a frame physio class, but the real exercises that count are those you do yourself repeatedly through each day.

CLICK ON EACH BOX TO SEE A VIDEO, EACH SHOWING A DIFFERENT EXERCISE