After knee arthroscopy, patients can expect less pain and a faster recovery period. However, you have to be committed to your rehabilitation program. Exercises are part of rehabilitation and should begin soon after knee arthroscopy to build strength and restore mobility to the knee.
Exercise programs are tailored to the patients’ needs. If you are recovering from surgery, you can expect initial exercises to be gentle, with a special focus on controlling pain and swelling, maintaining knee motion, and activating the quadriceps muscles.
Here are some exercises that are typically recommended for knee arthroscopy patients. Do not start these exercises without the supervision of a physical therapist (PT). A PT will teach you how to do each exercise correctly to avoid injury and reach your rehabilitation goals.
Quadriceps Setting
This exercise helps tone the front and side muscles of the thighs or the quadriceps and helps make straightening the knee easier. To do this exercise, lie on your back and fully extend your knee. Tighten the front thigh muscles and keep the knee as straight as possible, pushing them down toward the ground. Hold the position for at least five seconds. Do anywhere from 10 to 20 repetitions, and do this exercise two to three times a day.
Hamstring Contraction
The hamstring muscles are located at the back of the thigh. To do this exercise, lie on your back and keep your knee bent to a 10-degree angle. Keep the heel flat on the floor and slowly pull it backward, contracting the hamstring muscles. Hold the position for five seconds, then relax. Repeat at least 10 times.
Sitting Heel Slides
This exercise helps regain flexion or the bending motion of the knee. To do this, sit in a chair. Let the heel slide backward as if you were trying to guide the foot under the chair, then bring the heel forward and relax. In order to do this, the chair has to be the right height, neither too high nor too low. Repeat the exercise 20 times.
Straight Leg Raises
This exercise targets the hip and knee muscles. To do this, lie on your back. Bend the knee that wasn’t operated on to a 90-degree angle, keeping your foot flat on the floor. Then, straighten the affected knee. Slowly lift the knee (keeping it straight) about six inches off the ground. Hold the position for five seconds, then bring the leg back to the ground and relax. Repeat the exercise 10 times.
Ankle Pumps
Ankle pumps help boost circulation and control swelling after knee arthroscopy. You can do this sitting and standing, just move your foot up and down. Do at least 10 pumps and repeat it every hour.
Arthroscopic Knee Surgery in North Dakota
More and more doctors and patients prefer minimally invasive surgeries like knee arthroscopy to treat knee pain. At The Bone & Joint Center, our orthopedic surgeons are highly skilled in minimally invasive procedures. We have Dr. Timothy J. Bopp, Dr. Joseph W. Carlson, and Dr. Brian P. Dahl who all specialize in knee surgery.
If you want to know whether your knee problem can be treated using a minimally invasive technique, schedule a consultation with our experts. Call us now at (800) 424-2663. We look forward to providing you with excellent options to fix your knee!
