Knee Arthroscopy: Rehabilitation Protocol

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Recovery and Rehabilitation

After surgery, you will be moved to the recovery room and you should be able to go home on the day of surgery. Be sure to have someone with you to drive you home and check on you that first evening.  After surgery, you will feel some discomfort and swelling in your knee which will settle over a few days. This is a natural part of the healing process.  

Your leg may swell after surgery, and you should keep your leg elevated as much as possible for the first few days after surgery.

Pain Relief

You will be discharged home on a combination of paracetamol(Panadol), and anti-inflammatory (Celebrex/Naproxen) and other breakthrough pain relief (Endone/Palexia). If your pain is not managed with these medications, other medications will be prescribed to keep you comfortable.

Dressings/Wounds

You will leave the hospital with a large bandage covering your knee.  There are 2 small plastic dressings underneath this bandage covering your surgical sites.

In 2 days you can unwrap the outer bandage to leave the inner dressings intact. 

 
 

Keep your plastic dressings clean and dry. You can normally have a shower with the knee covered in a plastic bag. 

Crutches

Most patients need crutches after arthroscopic surgery for a few days, this is for balance and pain relief.  Once you are comfortable around the house you can wean down to one crutch in your opposite hand for a few days, especially when outside the home environment. 

Movement after Knee Arthroscopy

It is important that you resume walking and moving quickly after a knee arthroscopy to preserve your muscle strength and condition.  Early walking and mobilization also improves blood flow in your leg and prevents blood clots.

Day 0-5 Post Op

  • Straight leg raises 5 x sets of 10

  • Calf pumps 3 x sets of 10

  • Patella Mobilisations exercises

  • Short arc quads (0-30°)

  • Mini squats

  • Cryotherapy – ice and compression with tubigrip/leggings/compression stockings

Week 1-3 Post Op

  • Wean off crutches

  • Active assisted range of motion

  • Straight leg raises with ankle weights

  • Wall squats 0-60°

  • Hamstring curls with light resistance

Week 3-6 Post Op

  • Increase previous range of motion and resistance

  • Steps

  • Knee extensions weights

  • Proprioceptive activities and balance

  • Treadmill with walking trainer

  • Hydrotherapy

Week 6+ Post Op

  • Return to all activities

  • Agility drills

  • Plyometrics

  • Stair climbing machines

  • Squats and lunges

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