Fused Ankle

[sidbayless]

Two years ago I had a complete ankle replacement. I was able to row after several months of recovery. Sadly, the implant is failing and I must have it removed. The next step is an ankle fusion. The fusion will take a year of recovery and I will have very limited range of motion. Anyone out there row with a fused ankle? I suspect I will not be able to. Perhaps I can leave my right leg out and just row with my left strapped in?

[Tsnor]

These posts might help. viewtopic.php?t=161116 and viewtopic.php?t=188184

Contact concept2 directly. They don't read forums, but have a strong adaptive rowing program.

Work with your doctor. They will be able to find someone rowing with a fused ankle. They'll certainly explain how walking and running work with a fused ankle. At a guess you'll want to drive with both legs with the proper adapter, and that this will be better for you than rowing driving only on one leg.

[sidbayless]

Thanks. I went through those links too. Looks like there are ways. I don’t own the machine, it’s in the gym where I work. They probably won’t like drilling or retro fitting. I’ll figure something out.

[Ombrax]

How about switching to a Ski Erg? I don't know much about them, but intuitively I'm thinking that reduced ankle ROM would be less of an issue there.

[sidbayless]

Thanks. Possible, though my gym does not have one. Someone suggested it after the implant, though the weight bearing on the ski seems like have more impact than rowing.

[Mortie31]

Whilst my ankle isn’t fused, I have limited range of motion and my leg is 1.5 “ shorter following a series of lower leg injuries, over the last 18months, I’ve tried wooden wedges, angled shoe implants, and now I’m trying a climbing shoe on my good leg and a thick soled running boot on my bad one! How will the fusion affect the ability of your toes and foot bones to bend? Poor/no ankle flexibility is mainly restrictive in getting your shins vertical, which results in a slightly shorter stroke length, foot flexibility will allow some more, I’ve found i can still get plenty of drive power and speed with a shorter rowing stroke and by trying different shoes and wedges I can get my shins more vertical. Good luck with the operation and you will find a way

[sidbayless]

Thanks. I think my foot and toes will remain flexible. I had ankle replacement and that worked fine--I was rowing in 8 weeks. The implant has failed though. The fusion takes much longer to recover. I suspect I won't row for a year.

[nates]

I know it's pricey for home exercise equipment, but as a medical expense, having your own person rowerg is about the cost of two specialist opinions and way less than one surgery. If you have special needs the gym cannot accommodate, I would strongly consider it.

[jamesg]

1 Maybe cycling could be a better choice.

Or, 2 on the rowerg, swivelling footplates, like bike pedals.

In a case 3 of extreme difficulty, short action or even backstop rowing.

The other leg needs to work without a large imbalance and possibly the same way. The situation might evolve so staying close to a standard machine could be better.