Knee Arthroscopy

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Post-op recovery First 2 weeks Date

Goals

  • Protect the knee and surgical incision
  • Recover from swelling and inflammation
  • Control of post-surgical pain

 

Precautions

  • Avoid running
  • Walk short distances only

 

Recommendations

  • Rest and elevate as required
  • Ice the knee up to 3 times a day – particularly in the first 72 hours
  • Range of motion exercises of ankle
  • Range of motion exercises of hip
  • Gentle movement of the knee from full extension to 90 degrees of flexion as pain and swelling allows

 

Suggested exercises

  • Static quads contraction
  • Supine straight leg raise
  • Ankle pumps
  • Supine bed supported knee bend
  • Sitting supported knee bend
  • Sitting knee extension stretch – foot on floor
  • Supine knee extension – foot elevated/supported
  • Standing knee extension

 

Phase 1 Week 2 to week 6

Goals

  • Comfortably walk normally
  • Gain full range of motion
  • Begin strengthening

 

Precautions

  • Avoid running
  • Increase walking distance but only if comfortable

 

Recommendation

  • When standing, push knee straight to help achieve full extension
  • Increase range of motion from full extension to full flexion
  • Hip and gluteal muscle strengthening
  • Ankle range of motion and strengthening

 

Suggested exercises

  • Wall slide mini squat
  • Double leg squats (0-60)
  • Sitting unsupported knee extension and flexion
  • Single leg stance – knee straight, knee flexed
  • Straight leg raise
  • Step ups
  • Double calf raises – progress to single calf raise
  • Side leg raise – knee straight, knee flexed
  • Gluteal band exercises
  • Bridging with gluteal contraction
  • Exercycle – low resistance, short interval

 

Phase 2 Week 7 to week 12

Goals

  • Comfortably walk normally
  • Gain full range of motion
  • Return to full function

 

Precautions

  • Return to running as comfort allows
  • Do not return to athletic activity before full strength and neuromuscular control has been gained

 

Recommendations

  • Passive stretching to achieve full extension and flexion
  • Concentrated full rehab program that includes strengthening of core, hip flexors, gluteal muscles, external rotators of the hip, quadriceps, hamstrings and calves. Neuromuscular control and co-ordination of leg

 

Suggested exercises

  • Double leg squats (0-90)
  • Single leg squats
  • Single leg hop
  • Step ups – increase height
  • Hop ups
  • Step downs
  • Hop downs
  • Side hops
  • Resisted quads and hamstring weight training
  • Gluteal band exercises
  • Bridging
  • Double calf raises – progress to single calf raise
  • Exercycle – increase resistance and training length