1Single Leg Heel Raise
- Stand facing a wall or supportive surface and place your fingers on the wall for support if needed.
- Ensure your feet are hip distance apart and toes facing forward.
- Take your weight onto the right leg removing your left leg from the floor.
- Gently transfer your weight to the ball of your right foot.
- Push up onto the ball of your foot by lifting the heel from the ground.
- Slowly lower yourself to the ground.
- Try to go up fast and down slowly.
- Repeat as per Physiotherapist guidelines.
2Knee Extension
- Secure the resistance band around the ankle of the target limb to an anchor point at behind the foot.
- Come into sitting on a high chair with free space behind the backs of the leg.
- Roll onto the sits bones to ensure you are sitting up tall.
- Extend the target knee out in front of you with control.
- As you reach the end range tighten the muscles at the front of the thigh to draw the knee cap towards the hip.
- Slowly return to the start position.
- Repeat as per Physiotherapists guidelines.
3Single Leg Bridge
- Come into a lying position on the mat with the hands by your side.
- This will reduce the amount of support provided by the upper limb.
- Bend the knees with the heels in line with the sit bones.
- Lift the non-target leg off the floor.
- Press through the foot to lift the hips up.
- Focus on keeping the pelvis level.
- Repeat as per Physiotherapist guidelines.
4Single Leg Balance
- Position yourself next to a bench, chair or wall for balance support as needed.
- Come into single leg standing on the target limb.
- Attempt to hold balance here for a designated time frame and steady with support if needed.
5Tandem 3
- Position yourself next to a bench, chair or wall for balance support as needed.
- Take one foot next in front of the big toe of the standing leg so the heel is contact.
- Attempt to hold balance here for a designated time frame and steady with support if needed.
6Side Plank [Kneeling]
- Come into a side lying position with the elbow stacked directly underneath the shoulder resting on the outside aspect of your arm.
- Bend the knees so the heels are in line with the buttocks.
- Place the hand onto the hip or extend the arm to the roof.
- With the weight in the knees and the elbow, lift the hips towards the roof.
- Ensure the buttocks moves forwards and doesn’t arch out from the lower back.
Top leg completing straight leg lift
7Chair Squat [Deep]
- Come into standing in front of a low chair with the height prescribed by your Physiotherapist.
- The feet should be hip width apart.
- Bend the knees and send the bottom back to the chair.
- Use the arms outstretched as a counterbalance.
- Tap the bottom to the chair and rise.
As tolerated
8Chair Squat [Shallow Staggered]
- Come into standing in front of a chair with the height prescribed by your Physiotherapist.
- You may need to use a pillow here to increase the height.
- Stagger the feet – the foot closest to the chair will be the working limb.
- Bend the knees and send the bottom back to the chair.
- Use the arms outstretched as a counterbalance.
- Tap the bottom to the chair and rise.
9Wall Squat [Shallow]
- Stand against a wall with your feet out in front of you.
- Slide down the wall into a squat position.
- Hold for length of time designated by your physiotherapist.
- When finished, don’t use your legs to push yourself up the wall.
- Instead, lean forward and use your hands to push yourself away from the wall.
10Ankle Dorsiflexion [Knee to Wall]
- Stand next to a wall and place one foot in front of the other, its best to start closer to the wall approx. 5cm away.
- Whilst keeping your foot flat on the ground bend the knee with the aim of touching the wall.
- If you can touch the wall, move the foot back a centimetre each time until you find it difficult to reach the wall and feel a light stretch.
- Repeat/perform the exercise as instructed by your therapist as there is a few variations.
- Holding the stretch for 30 seconds up to a minute can be of benefit for people with stiffness in their ankle.