Anyone have recommendations for pool exercises specifically for foot for flexibility and strength.

Try finding a heated pool. The water temp is very important...

My PT had me do something akin to a bicycle motion with one leg, dorsiflexion on the upward movement then plantarflexion on the downswing. They had me do calf stretches in the pool too. I was told to be careful of overstretching because in the pool you don't feel it the same because the temp difference. When I was strong enough I started walking in there.

On land, making the alphabet is good, picking up marbles with your toes and transferring to a cup, everting and inverting, ankle circles, towel pulls and lots of cool stuff you can do with bands that you can find videos of on YouTube. The "foot shortening" exercise works all the intrinsic muscles and requires only the foot to do.

Let us know your surgery day or if you cancel . We'll be sending lots of healing vibes.

I like using a noodle and pretending like its s bike to ride

Surgery day is scheduled for Aug 7th. I had bad day yesterday so not sure what I am going to do. I have app with pm but couldn't get in until Aug 5th which isn't time to get Block before surgery. I will be trying to call office on monday. I will feel more comfortable with precautions in place which then would make me have less quilt if surgery doesn't work and make me worse but I feel I need it. So wish there was a definitive test for crps.

I live in AZ so pool this time of year is quite warm upper 80's to low 90's.

If they are doing a regional block of your leg for surgery then that will get the sympathetic fibers starting at the level of the block. The sympathetic and motor and sensory fibers run along together. They can do the blocks above the knee for better coverage. They should be blocking more than one nerve....they have lots of communicating branches and little tendrils that end up further out of their territory than expected sometimes.

I did the alphabet (drawing the letters of the alphabet with affected foot) for flexibility. We also did marching in place, standing on one leg, sideways walking, hopping, and squats. I know we did other stuff but it was a while ago. I was able to handle most things well in the water and we did the water therapy until I could essentially handle those same exercises on land. The one thing that caught me off guard with how painful it was in the water was using a kick board and kicking in the water. that motion and the pressure it put on my rsd affected ankle was agony...I almost passed out the pain was so bad. Needless to say...we never attempted THAT exercise again. just be cautious, try everything and ease into stuff. Admit when something is too much and try something else. start with small repetitions and work your way up with each exercise.

I'm with Russell. A heated pool is very important.

Thanks everyone for exercise ideas many are similar to what I have done in past pt also it was a good reminder as I had forgotten a lot.

My surgeon hasn't mentioned regional block I will ask. He is going to do local with iv sedation rather than general anesthesia so that should be good. I had general last time did fine but know it carries more risk.