Exercises For Rehabilitation Of Knee Injuries

The knee is the largest joint in the body; it is also the most commonly injured. Problems in the knee generally present after a traumatic injury, commonly during contact sports. If you are experiencing severe pain, swelling, difficulty moving the knee or problems with weight bearing, you should have your knee evaluated by a physician to determine whether rehabilitation is the next move.

Knee Anatomy

The knee joint is composed of the femur and tibia. In order for the knee to serve its function, it must be capable of bending as necessary for locomotion, while maintaining a stable connection between the femur and tibia. The joint must be freely flexible in certain directions, yet rigid and uncompromising in others. The ligaments of the knee allow this goal to be accomplished.

Ligaments are a type of connective tissue that holds bones together; for example, the knee joint is held together by the collateral and cruciate ligaments. Injuries to the ligaments of the knee each present with specific symptoms and may call for different exercises during rehabilitation depending on the extent of the injury.

Collateral Ligament Injury

The collateral ligaments include the LCL and the MCL, standing for lateral and medial collateral ligaments, respectively. The LCL and MCL are located on the outside of your knees, and when these ligaments are injured, the knee becomes highly unstable. According to the book "Sports Medicine and Outpatient Orthopedics," rehabilitation of MCL and LCL injuries involve protected weight-bearing and physical therapy. Depending on the severity of the injury, your doctor will likely recommend wearing a brace to compensate for the lost stability in this joint.

The first steps in rehabilitation of collateral ligament injury focus on reducing pain and inflammation while keeping the knee immobilized for stability. Once pain and swelling subside, the next step involves exercises to restore strength and normal range of motion to the knee. You should proceed with these exercises with caution; take care to avoid pain or feeling sore as these are signs of damaging inflammation.

Cruciate Ligament Injury

The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, or ACL and PCL, are located inside of the knee joint. Rehabilitation for this type of injury involves a strengthening program, designed to build support for the knee joint in order to compensate for the lost stability due to the injury. However, according to UCSF Medical Center, only about one-third of patients with ACL injuries are able to build enough muscle strength to restore full function without surgery.

Applications

According to Dr. King of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, you should approach knee rehabilitation carefully, whether you are recovering from injury or even surgery. Perform exercises slowly, in a pain-free way unless you are specifically told otherwise by a doctor or physical therapist.