Cast Off but Still Stiff? Getting Moving Again After a Fracture

Six weeks in a cast, and finally it's off. You expected to go back to normal. Instead, your wrist won't bend, your ankle is swollen by evening, the leg looks thinner than the other one, and you're scared to put your full weight on it. You might even be walking with a limp you can't shake.

This is very common. The bone may be healed, but the rest of the limb needs help to catch up.

Why you feel this way

• Stiffness: joints that don't move for weeks get tight.
• Weakness: muscles shrink quickly when they aren't used.
• Swelling: blood flow is slower after an injury and time in a cast.
• Fear: your brain is protecting the area, so you move carefully.

None of this means the bone didn't heal. It means your body needs a guided return to normal use.

What physiotherapy does

At Katasi Physiotherapy in Westlands, we start by checking how far each joint moves, how strong the muscles are and how you walk or use your hand. Then we use hands-on treatment to loosen stiff joints, exercises to rebuild strength and balance, and step-by-step practice of real tasks, like stairs, typing, gripping or getting back to sport. We follow your doctor's or surgeon's instructions about how much weight and movement are safe.

After surgery too

The same applies after surgery with plates, screws or a knee scope. Starting rehab at the right time often makes the difference between a quick recovery and months of stiffness.

If your ankle still feels weak after a sprain, read Sprained Ankle or Heel Pain in the Morning?

What to bring

Bring your X-rays, discharge notes or your surgeon's instructions to your first visit.

Book in Westlands

Don't let a healed bone leave you with a stiff joint. Visit Katasi Physiotherapy at Kerai Office, Mogotio Road off Muthithi Road, Westlands. Call or WhatsApp 0705 717 353 to book.