Upward (dorsiflexion) and downward (plantarflexion) ankle movements are important to start early. Your surgeon is usually happy for this to start as soon as you are allowed to remove the boot when not walking. I usually allow this from the day after your surgery. Avoid movement that is too vigorous for 2 weeks to allow the wound to heal.

You should start moving your toes up and down from immediately after surgery. This along with ankle movement may help to reduce risk of a DVT (clot in the leg usually presents as pain and swelling in calf).

If you have ongoing stiffness, after your surgeon is happy with the amount of bone healing, you may do more strenuous stretching exercises to improve ankle dorsiflexion.