Mini Trampoline Exercises & Ankle Ruptures

Ankle ligament injuries, including a full rupture of the Achilles tendon, are typically difficult to rehabilitate, especially after surgery. However, many patients have benefited from increased range of motion to the ankle joint by exercising on a mini trampoline while under the supervision of a physical therapist or athletic trainer. Most exercises initially focus on non-weight-bearing movements, followed by a gradual increase in exercise difficulty.

Initial Exercises

• When beginning exercise routines on a mini trampoline, patients recovering from ankle rupture must first focus on regaining a full range of motion within the joint. According to Marticia Heaner, a leading fitness trainer and correspondent for MSN.com, the shock absorption qualities of a mini trampoline can assist in this process.

  For example, simply standing on the mini trampoline and focusing on slow, controlled movements of pronation and supination (essentially moving the foot in a circular motion) can help counteract the initial effects of muscle atrophy that often accompanies surgery.

  Once the patient is able to perform this motion comfortably, additional exercises focusing more on balance and continued muscle stabilizer strengthening can follow. These exercises include balancing on the trampoline with one foot, but only after the patient can first comfortably perform this exercise on a flat floor for more than one minute.

Graduated Exercises and Strength Training

• Patients further on in a rehabilitation program are often able to perform more difficult exercises on the mini trampoline, leading to increased joint and lower body strength. According to Heaner, exercises such as squats and lunges on the trampoline are great ways to build muscle bulk surrounding the ankle. Performing more difficult movements, such as jumps and deeper leg squats, should only be attempted once the patient presents with highly controlled balance and little to no discomfort in performing the same movements on a flat surface. Adjusting exercise repetitions and increasing weight resistance (via dumbbells or other light weights the patient can hold while on the trampoline) provide further customization to the trampoline workout regimen. Patients might also choose to incorporate additional strength-training exercises on the trampoline long after a prescribed therapy program in order to maintain joint stability as to prevent injuries in the future.