Strengthening the muscles that support your knee will reduce stress on your knee joint. Do this exercise if you are unable to fully extend. Sit on the ground with your legs extended in front of you. The following exercises will challenge and improve your balance using your body or a variety of training aids. Stretching the muscles that you strengthen is important for restoring range of motion and preventing injury. Exercises for osteoarthritis of the knee osteoarthritis osteoarthritis oa is a disease of the joint cartilage associated with secondary changes in the underlying bone which may cause pain and compromise the function of the affected joint. The meniscus is a cshaped piece of cartilage next to the knee that acts as a shock absorber. How well the knee will heal and whether surgery will be needed depends in large part on the type of tear and how bad the tear is. Quadriceps strengthening, making sure that closed chain exercises occur. Knee arthritis tips and exercises kaiser permanente. Famous physical therapists bob schrupp and brad heineck demonstrate the top 7 exercises to be performed after a meniscus tear. Elizabeth quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. Common tears include longitudinal, parrotbeak, flap, bucket handle, and mixedcomplex. Knee sprains and strains university of california, berkeley.
A meniscus tear is a common injury of the knee joint that occurs from trauma such as a forceful twisting of the knee joint or degeneration over time. Stationary bicycle helps to increase strength 2 swimming is also another exercise that can be done during this phase to develop muscle strength and maintain your range of motion. The great news is that vastus medialis strengthening exercises can easily be done at home or in the gym without the need for specialist equipment. Figure 1 meniscus cartilage shown here from above the knee, without. Lie on your back with your injured knee out straight and your other knee bent.
Gentle strengthening protecting the healing meniscus. Exercises usually begin with mobility and isometric static contractions. The exercises aim to improve the strength of certain muscles that will provide better. Tighten your quad muscle on your straight leg, and raise the leg up about 12 to 15 inches.
Knee arthroscopy exercise programme the following guide will help you to understand your postoperative exercise program. The decision by the surgeon to repair or remove is based primarily on the location of the meniscal tear. Physical therapy pt intervention as indicated by treating physical therapists plan of care within guidelines of this study protocol. Your rehab program probably will include physical therapy and home exercises. In complex tears, hamstring strengthening will be avoided for the first 6 weeks after.
Rehabilitation protocol for meniscus repair this protocol is intended to guide clinicians and patients through the postoperative course for a meniscus repair. Exercises pdf free download pdf could hip and knee muscle strengthening alter the pain. Hold your straight leg up for a few seconds, and then. Remember to check out this great exercise video for torn meniscus exercises, and you can also read more articles about meniscus injuries. If you have questions, contact the referring physician. Stepping exercises have been included in knee surgery prehab exercise programs that have led to improved function and knee strength. You move on to stretches that keep your leg muscles loose.
Exercises for osteoarthritis of the knee pennine gp training. Anterior cruciate ligament acl and meniscus repair rehabilitation protocol general notes. You have both an inner medial and outer lateral meniscus that help distribute the forces in the. It can also be caused by wear and tear and doing everyday activities that put pressure on the knee joint, such as squatting to pick something up or getting in and out of a car. Postoperative instructions for knee arthroscopy, torn meniscus. You will be sent home from the surgery center with prescriptions for pain medication. It is important to continue with regular aerobic exercise. Pain and swelling are the most common signs of an injury to your meniscus. Oa is the result of aging and general wear and tear.
Quadriceps setting is an isometric exercise to strengthen the front thigh muscles. Physical therapy exercises in the clinic, and as part. For most tears, some simple exercises can help maintain muscle strength in the front of the thigh quadriceps, back of the thigh hamstr. The forward stepup and its variations are excellent knee surgery prehab exercise as it works on functional lower body strength with great carryover to daily activities. If the exercises can be performed easily after the first week, then an ankle weight may be used to increase the resistance of the. Our home exercise program is a simple yet powerful solution to effectively and efficiently treat your patients.
Do the exercises selected by your physical therapist in. You start with exercises that focus on range of motion, like flexing and extending your knee as much as you can without pain. Be sure to keep your knee straight the entire time. Strengthening and stability exercises are recommended not only for people who have injured their knees, but also to prevent injury. Introduction to meniscus tear rehabilitation exercises. Doing the exercises in this handout will strengthen the muscles that support your knee to help you recover from knee replacement surgery.
The rehabilitation guidelines are presented in a criterion based progression. Physical therapy pt can be useful for a torn meniscus whether or not you have surgery. Do this exercise if you are unable to fully extend your knee. This exercise works the entire lower half of the body and really targets the quads, glutes, and hamstrings. Sports injury medicine department 9250 sw hall blvd. Work with your doctor to plan a rehabilitation rehab program that helps you regain as much strength and.
Postoperative arthroscopic partial meniscectomy physical therapy rehabilitation protocol each phase should include. Dont let your pelvis wobble as you move up and down. The following exercises for meniscal tears assist you to strengthen your lower limb musclesquad sets. Specific intervention should be based on the needs of the individual and should consider exam findings and clinical decision making. Keep your pelvis level as you lift your hipspelvis and buttocks into the air. We have remained at the forefront of medicine by fostering a culture of collaboration, pushing the boundaries of medical research, educating the brightest medical minds and maintaining an unwavering commitment to the diverse communities we serve. Torn knee meniscus exercises mobility, strengthening. Home exercise program hep as indicated 1215 repetitions with 12 sets of each exercise. Postoperative instructions for knee arthroscopy, torn meniscus dr. Physical therapy pt and exercises for a meniscus tear rehab. If you are comfortable with the exercises, gradually increase the number of repetitions until you reach 20 repetitions.
Postoperative arthroscopic partial meniscectomy physical. Regular exercises are necessary to restore your knee mobility and strength. You begin basic exercises, like straight leg raises and toe raises. The final exercise that you need to do in phase 2 of rehab and its a good one. Rest and elevate the knee when not doing your rehabilitation exercises.
Work with your doctor to plan a rehabilitation rehab program that helps you regain as much strength and flexibility in your knee as possible. Pdf terminal extension exercises for the knee meniscus tear. You may do the rest of the exercises when the pain in your knee has decreased. Ice should be applied to the knee for 15 to 20 minutes following each exercise, therapy, or training session.
Your bed is an excellent place to do your exercises. When the meniscus is repaired there may be a period of restricted knee flexion, especially during weight bearing, to protect the repair sutures and the meniscus. Torn meniscus exercises the good, the bad, the ugly oh. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist about which exercises will best help you meet your rehabilitation goals. To get your knee back to full strength, you will need to follow the regular exercise programme and attend all of your physiotherapy appointments. Total knee exercises why should i exercise my knee. Exercises that strengthen the muscles and tendons around the knee help to. The meniscus is a cshaped piece of cartilage in the knee that cushions and acts as a shock absorber between your thigh bone femur and shin bone tibia. Our medial meniscus rehabilitation program explains this in more detail. Anterior cruciate ligament acl and meniscus repair. Rehabilitation guidelines for meniscal repair uw health. Gently stretching after strengthening exercises can help reduce muscle soreness and keep your muscles long and flexible.
Hip flexor exercise pdf shawn karam no squat leg workout the fit cookie 34 best knee fracture images knee exercises, knee fracture. After an injury or surgery, an exercise conditioning program will help you return. Exercises should be a major component of your knee rehab program after a meniscus tear. Aerobic exercise like riding a bike, using a pedal exerciser, swimming, or water exercises are good for your knee. We recommend seeking professional advice before attempting any rehabilitation exercises. The vastus medialis muscle is the inner most of the four quadriceps muscles found on the front of the thigh. Bridge exercise with an exercise band around your knees. The knee loses strength and stability after an injury. Rehabilitation exercises a meniscus tear is a common knee joint injury.
Both mobility, stretching, strengthening and proprioception exercises are important. Save time creating and documenting programs, while improving your quality of care. Develop strength and flexibility in your knee and legs may further prevent future degeneration in your knee. Exercises your kaiser permanente care instructions here are some examples of typical rehabilitation exercises for your condition. Here we outline some exercises for a torn meniscus injury.
Do this exercise if you are unable to extend your knee. Exercises that might be prescribed for rehab are listed here. How well the knee will heal and whether surgery will be needed depends in large part on the type of tear see figure in appendix and how bad the tear is. Each knee has two half moonshaped pieces of cartilage called menisci that cushion and lubricate the knee. We start with a reverse lunge vs a forward lunge because it is less stress and force through the knee joint.
The following exercise program will help you regain knee motion and strength. Simple exercises can be done as shown on the back of the page. After the first few days, as the pain lessens, you may decrease the frequency with which you take the medication and taper off as you feel comfortable, but keep in mind that. Meniscus rehab exercises the physical therapy advisor. A meniscus tear is a common knee injury that often affects people who play contact sports. When and where you start rehabilitation will depend on whether you have had surgery or not. Fogoros, md, is a retired professor of medicine and boardcertified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. Physical therapy and home exercises can advance healing in your knee and help you return to desired activities. Meniscal cartilage tear exercises summit medical group. The best exercises after meniscus surgery phyiscal.
While lying on your back, place a rolledup towel under the heel of your injured leg so the heel is about 6 inches off the ground. Find out when it helps, what to expect, and how long. Make a goal of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per day. The meniscus is a cshaped piece of cartilage in the knee that cushions and acts as a shock absorber between your thigh bone. The following exercises are examples of those that may be used in the rehabilitation of a lateral cartilage meniscus injury.
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