Good leg routing after injuries?

[TBrookeD]

I used to have fairly big legs, but I broke my left foot and right
ankle and as a result of being in casts, my entire legs shrunk up including
my feet!! Everything is healed now, but my ankle is swollen and I was told
that it will be for the rest of my life because of the way it healed. I
can move it, but sometimes it hurts and feels like it is locked up.

Anyway, I am back in the gym and noticed that I cannot do squats and other
leg exercises like I used to. Any suggestions on a good leg workout or
alternate forms of the lifts? Just looking to get big legs again!

Thanks

 

[Koevoet]

After breaking my foot, and coming out of the cast, I was able to do smith squats with my feet forward, so that I needed very little range of motion in my ankle. Also was able to do leg presses with my feet high up on the foot rest.

Don't just accept what your doc tell you, go to physical therapy and see if that helps. It did for me.

 

[norm1220]

In 2001 I took a 60' fall ice climbing and my right leg pretty much exploded from the impact. It took over 34 operations, lots of bone from the bone bank, some metal, and about 2 years before I got the hang of walking again.

I know a little about rehabing a fucked up leg.... In 2005 I got back up on stage and took home a 2nd place trophy at the State BB competition. The judges said that other than the fact that I walk with a limp, they could not tell that the leg had been injured.

I suggest doing unilateral work for as long as it takes to even out your leg strength. Leg extensions one leg at a time, leg curls, one leg at a time, and leg presses (heels high) one leg at a time. Once the legs are equal in strength go back to squats, front squats, and leg presses using both legs at the same time. I now have to put plates under my heels when I do squats and front squats because my right ankle does not move (fused), but my legs are bigger than they have ever been before so what the hell I can live with the plates.

One last piece of advice: when training legs one at a time, lead with the injured leg and then do only the same number of reps with the good leg.