Arthroscopic knee surgery is a common surgical procedure in which surgeons make small cuts and use a camera to help diagnose and treat knee conditions. While recovery is much faster than with traditional knee surgery, you are still likely to be unable to bear weight for at least a few days. Your doctor will then prescribe weight-bearing exercises to help restore strength and range of motion in your knee and leg.
Standing Straight Leg Raises
Standing straight leg raises help rebuild the strength in your leg. Stand up tall with your feet shoulder-width apart. If you need to, stand near a counter or the back of a chair to support yourself. Slowly lift your affected leg forward while keeping your knee straight. Raise your leg as far as you comfortably can. Return to the starting position and repeat 10 times. To make this exercise more challenging, you can use an ankle weight. Start with 1 lb. and go no higher than 5 lbs. in ankle weights.
Partial Squats
Partial squats can help to strengthen and increase flexibility in your knee as well as your thigh muscles. Position yourself behind a chair and place your hands on the back for support. Stand with your back straight and your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly bend at the knees with keeping your back straight. Bend as far as you comfortably can, but no further than 90 degrees. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Slowly raise yourself back up to the starting position and repeat 10 times.
Standing Quad Stretch
This will help strengthen your thigh muscles as well as provide for flexibility in your knee. Stand straight up and bend your affected knee backward. Grasp your foot with your hand and slowly pull your heel toward your buttocks. You will feel a stretch in the front of your thigh. Hold this position for five seconds. Slowly lower your leg back to the floor and repeat. Repeat 10 times.
Step-Ups
Use an exercise step or a small step stool to help strengthen your knees and relearn how to use stairs following your arthroscopic knee surgery. Step up with your affected knee onto the stool. Then bring your healthy leg up. Step down with your healthy leg first and then bring your affected leg back down to the ground. Repeat 10 times. As your strength increases, you can use a higher stool or opt for climbing an actual set of stairs.
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