Ankle Ligament Repair — Brostrom Lateral Ankle Ligament Repair

Massachusetts General Hospital · MGH Sports Medicine

Weight-Bearing

NWB crutches wks 0-2; WBAT in boot wks 3-6; WBAT in shoe with active ankle brace wks 7-8+

Key Restrictions

No inversion or PF ROM wks 0-2; avoid inversion throughout early phases; ankle mobs must avoid stress to CFL and ATFL; more conservative for tendon augmentation, peroneal repair, revision, hyperlaxity, or comorbidities

Timeline & Phases

6 phases: Phase I (0-2 wks, NWB, hip/quad strengthening), Phase II (3-6 wks, WBAT boot — DF/PF/eversion ROM, no inversion; submax isometrics except inversion), Phase III (7-8 wks, shoe + active brace — full ROM, calf raises, SL balance, pool jogging), Phase IV (9-12 wks, SL calf raises, squats, Y-balance), Phase V (3-4 months, lateral lunges, SL progression, elliptical), Phase VI (5-6+ months, interval running, agility/plyometric program)

Notes

Revised 12/2021; RTS criteria: 25 SL heel raises, 90% Y-balance, 90% single-leg hop and triple hop, CAIT or FAAM; Phase VI unrestricted RTS at 5-6+ months; avoid stress to CFL and ATFL with mobs throughout. [Archived copy — original Massachusetts General Hospital URL retired in the Mass General Brigham site migration; Wayback snapshot 2025-02-16.]

Surgeon / Author

MGH Sports Medicine

Published

December 2021