Recovering from a Lisfranc Injury: How Physiotherapy Supports Your Recovery
Introduction: When Foot Injuries Are More Than “Just a Sprain”
As a physiotherapist, one of the foot injuries I always pay close attention to is a Lisfranc injury.
These injuries involve the midfoot joints and ligaments that help stabilise the arch of your foot. They usually occur from a twist, fall, or heavy load through a bent foot—often in sport or after an awkward step.
What makes Lisfranc injuries important is that they are frequently missed or mistaken for a simple foot sprain. However, they can significantly affect walking, running, and long-term foot function if not diagnosed and managed correctly (Brukner & Khan, 2020).
At Flexout Health, our physiotherapists support clients across Canberra from our clinics in Woden, Queanbeyan, and Gungahlin to help identify, manage, and rehabilitate foot injuries like Lisfranc sprains and fractures.
Here’s how I guide patients through recovery from this type of injury.
1. Early Protection Is Critical
In the early stages of a Lisfranc injury, protecting the midfoot is the priority.
These structures play a key role in supporting the arch of the foot, so early weight-bearing without guidance can worsen the injury. Depending on severity, management may involve a boot or, in more serious cases, referral for specialist imaging and medical care.
During this phase, the goal is to reduce pain and swelling while preventing further stress to the injured ligaments and joints.
We carefully guide how much movement and loading is safe, ensuring the foot is protected while still maintaining overall mobility where possible.
2. Restoring Safe Weight-Bearing and Walking
Once the initial pain and inflammation settle, we begin the gradual process of reintroducing weight-bearing.
A Lisfranc injury often causes difficulty pushing off through the forefoot and can lead to a cautious or altered walking pattern. This is completely expected, but it needs to be addressed early to avoid long-term compensation.
We focus on controlled progression of walking, improving tolerance to load, and restoring a more natural gait pattern.
Re-establishing confidence in the foot during this stage is an important milestone in recovery.
3. Rebuilding Foot and Lower Limb Strength
The midfoot plays a vital role in distributing load through the body during standing, walking, and running.
After injury, weakness in the intrinsic foot muscles and surrounding lower limb structures is common.
We introduce progressive strengthening exercises that target the foot arch, calf, and stabilising muscles of the lower leg. These exercises may begin with simple activation work and gradually progress to weight-bearing and functional movements.
A strong and stable foot is essential for long-term recovery and helps reduce the risk of persistent pain or re-injury.
“A healthy midfoot is the foundation for efficient movement from the ground up.”
4. Restoring Balance and Movement Control
Once strength improves, we shift focus to balance, coordination, and dynamic control.
Lisfranc injuries can affect how the foot absorbs and transfers force during movement, particularly in activities like running, jumping, or changing direction.
We use single-leg balance drills, controlled stepping, and progressive loading exercises to retrain how the foot responds under pressure.
This stage is essential for restoring confidence and ensuring the foot can handle more complex and dynamic movement patterns.
5. Returning to Sport and Full Activity
Returning to sport after a Lisfranc injury requires a structured and carefully monitored progression.
Because the midfoot is central to force transfer, it must be able to tolerate higher loads before returning to running, jumping, or pivoting activities.
We assess walking tolerance, strength, balance, and functional movements before gradually progressing toward sport-specific drills.
Rushing this stage can lead to persistent pain or delayed recovery, so a gradual, criteria-based return is essential.
Why Proper Diagnosis and Rehab Matter
Lisfranc injuries are often missed early, which is why ongoing symptoms like midfoot pain, swelling, or difficulty pushing off should always be assessed properly.
At Flexout Health, our physiotherapists across Woden, Queanbeyan, and Gungahlin provide thorough assessment and evidence-based rehabilitation to support recovery from midfoot injuries.
Every program is tailored to your injury severity, lifestyle, and goals—whether that’s returning to sport, work, or walking without pain.
Recovery Is About Building a Strong Foundation
A Lisfranc injury can feel frustrating due to its impact on basic movement, but with the right management, recovery is absolutely achievable.
With structured physiotherapy, progressive loading, and careful rehabilitation, you can restore strength, improve stability, and return to full activity safely.
If you’re experiencing midfoot pain or recovering from a Lisfranc injury, our team at Flexout Health is here to guide you through every stage of recovery.
Ready to start your rehabilitation? Book your appointment today.
Date published: 4th July, 2026
The Author: Isaac Norris
Isaac is a Physiotherapist at Flexout Health, providing expert care across Woden and Queanbeyan.
He has a particular interest in the assessment and rehabilitation of foot and ankle injuries,
including complex conditions such as Lisfranc injuries, helping people safely return to work,
sport, and everyday activities through tailored rehabilitation programs. Isaac also has a strong
interest in chronic pain management and acute sporting injuries, enjoying the variety of
presentations that come through the clinic. He combines hands-on treatment with individualised
exercise-based rehabilitation, using evidence-based care to help clients reduce pain, restore
movement, build confidence, and achieve their personal goals.
