Hyperextension of the knee refers to the pressure, brought on by excessive force, that occurs when your knee bends past its normal position, damaging ligaments, cartilage and other stabilizing structures. Depending upon the intensity of the injury, inflammation, swelling and loss of movement can develop. The most likely causes of a hyper-extended knee are sports activities, including gymnastics, basketball and volleyball. The injury may be worsened if your knee is rigid and tense upon the moment of impact. Patients often engage in physical therapy to repair damage as one part of a more extensive treatment for the knee.
Function
Physical therapy is a specific and rigorous program, overseen by a professional therapist, that operates above and beyond normal exercise. Its purpose is to carefully and precisely restore function to the knee that was lost from the injury, which requires specific physiological and medical knowledge. Most often this occurs in an out-patient clinical setting. According to 2008 study published in the "Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation" by researchers from Johns Hopkins University, patients who had their needs met by physical therapists were more likely to improve physical function after leg trauma in several key categories, including range of motion and walking speed.
Prognostication
The knee is the largest joint in the body and, as a critical component in human movement, may take time to fully heal; physical therapy usually lasts between four and six weeks. A full restoration of leg strength and stability may be accomplished with or without surgery. If surgery is required, then it can take six to nine months to fully recover.
Medical Advice
Exercises can only be prescribed by a doctor or surgeon, and are usually administered by a physical therapist. If you do not receive specific instructions, then you should never undertake therapy of your own. A professional must assess the state of your knee and diagnose the best path to recovery. Nevertheless, the number of exercises that can be used to convalesce the knee is extensive. These may include such exercises as the knee flexion, knee extension, straight leg raise, ankle pump and a simple stretch of the quadriceps and glutes. They are designed to restore movement and strength to the knee and promote active blood flow in the region.
Progression
Depending upon the extent of the injury, prescribed exercises are typically low impact and non-weight-bearing at first to control swelling, pain and inflammation. As therapy advances and joint mobility is established, weight-bearing activities are common. Later on, resistance exercises and regular functional activities become progressively more prevalent until you reach a condition in which you are deemed ready to return to play if you are in a sport, or resume your normal activities otherwise.
References
- Mayo Clinic; Hyperextended Knee: Cause of Serious Injury?; Dr. Edward R. Laskowski; March 2010
- "Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation"; Evidence of Beneficial Effect of Physical Therapy after Lower-Extremity Trauma; RC Castillo, et al.; October 2008
- Salt Lake Orthopaedic Clinic; Physical Therapy and Exercise for the Knee; Dr. Bruce G. Evans
- Chester Knee Clinic and Cartilage Repair Centre: Rehabilitation
