swimming with a broken leg

If the doc says it's OK... Probably you would need to do 1-legged pushoffs. That might be hard with a pull-buoy. It might be easier to just drag that leg while swimming (de-emphasized 1-legged kick) or pull only without a pull buoy. Depends on how well you float. Are you supposed to flex/extend your ankles or will you need to brace/strap them in a fixed position? But the pool deck and lockerrooms may be a show-stopper issue. You may need assistance getting poolside without slipping or getting your boot wet if you don't swim in it. Absolutely do not plan on 1-legged hopping. Pool decks are also hazardous for crutches.

I would check with your doctor for sure. While it seems like you would not be using your feet and ankles when you swim, especially with a pull buoy, you still use your feet and ankles for balance when swimming. Your foot would be extended as well (120 degrees v. 90 degrees in a cast). I would be surprised if the doctor gave you the green light, but it depends on how healed you are at this point. I know it must be frustrating. Hang in there.

When I hurt my knee and could not swim, I hooked up stretchcordz to the block and swam anyway! Did this for about 3 weeks. If the set was 8 x 50 on :40. I'd push off with everybody else do my same number of strokes (plus a few for good measure!) and stop when they stopped. Worked great. Three months later I did life best times :agree:

Talk to your doctor. A few years ago I broke my ankle (simple break-didn't have to be set) and after two weeks my doctor told me I could take the boot off to swim. He actually encouraged me to walk in the water because the water supports most of your weight. I could not put any weight on the foot on land without the boot which did make getting in and out of the pool interesting even with real steps and a handrail. See if they'll allow you put a chair next to the steps so you can hop out on one foot and sit in the chair and put your boot back on. For a while I could only pull because kicking hurt too much and 1 foot push offs were the only way to go. It seems like after a couple more weeks I was able to start some gentle kicking. It was quite a while before I could handle fins tho. So yes, definitely talk to your doctor. Jan

I'd say it depends on what type of break and where exactly in the ankle.Regardless, clear it with your DR-if you start too soon you will only prolong the healing time.I would recomend swimming as rehab once the break is healed.

Craig, get better quick.....and with Dr's. advice, hopefully swimming will be part of your rehab.

This is the only forum with a real boken body part. So I am writing here and hoping some one will respond. I broke my back on Dec 19th. My surgeon says he can't believe how quickly I am recovering. I want to know if anyone else has ever broken their backs and if yes how long did it take them to swim okay? for those of you who want to know ht e gory details--- here htey are. I was driving on I-70 west of Dayton Ohio. A semi truck I was behind pulled into the passing lane. I saw a blown semi tire. i didn't have time to react so I drove over it. The blown tire still had part of th emetal frame attached. It was snowing and I had my car in 4-wheel drive. I thikn it probably enjoyed it. I stopped to get gas at the truck stopp about 3 exits from Indiana. they were wonderful. Then I drove to the Reid hospital in Richmond. The Er doctor gave me some pain pills and told me to either continue on to Champaign/Urbana Ill or go back to Pittsburgh. I was actually on my way to Houston for my oldest brother's funeral. he died at 62 years from lung cancer. he was a nurse who smoked. I returned to Pittsburgh where I live. My legs were paralyzed so I drove moving my legs with my hands. When I got to Wheeling WV, I decided to drive through the tunnel because i didn't think I would be able to put enough pressure on my leg with my right hand to make it up the mountain on the Wheeling bypass. On Monday I called my internist and he arranged for the surgery. the surgeon thought that an ambulance was bringing me from indiana. Oh how foolish. I have two rods down my back. When you touch the top of the one on the left, my left leg moves uncontrollably like when you pet a dog. It is really cool. I am wearing a turtle until march 17th at least. today the surgeon said I can shower. Yeah!!! rock salt sucks. It is really hard to move my walker over it..