The outer edges of cartilage in your knee joints are the lateral meniscus. They are just on top of your shinbone, or tibia plateau. They help displace the pressure on your knees from your weight, acting as shock absorbers for your knees. Injuring the lateral meniscus causes significant knee pain. Once you recover, participate in a range of physical therapy exercises as prescribed by your doctor.
Braces
It's possible that you'll have to keep your knee immobilized following surgery. A number of braces are available depending on the amount of movement you can handle. A hinged knee support allows you to bend your knee without risking twisting or turning it sideways. Mechanisms inside the brace can stop your knee from fully extending. The hinged knee brace provides the most protection for lateral meniscus rehabilitation. Kneepads, neoprene supports and stabilized braces give you more range of motion and may be used as you recover and gain strength in your knee.
Knee Extensions
It's most likely that you won't be able to bear weight on the affected leg for about a month. Meanwhile, you can participate in rehabilitation exercises to target movement and range of motion in your affected knee. Knee extensions are performed while lying down or sitting up and don't require you to bear weight. As you gain strength, you can add light ankle weight to your affected side to derive even more benefits. Knee extensions help you regain range of motion after surgery as well as build thigh muscles to support your weakened knee once you do start walking again.
Hamstring Curls
An integral part of knee rehabilitation involves strengthening your hip, thigh and calf muscles to support your weakened knee. Hamstring curls work the muscles on the back of your legs and provide a different range of motion for your knee than extensions do. While performing hamstring curls and other exercises, you should stop if the pain in your knee worsens or you develop swelling and redness around your surgical area. Tell your doctor if you develop weakness in your hamstring while undergoing physical rehab because you may have internal complications from the surgery.
Water Therapy
As you gain strength, you may be asked to start weight-bearing exercises in a pool. The water helps to relieve the pressure on your knee. Start by water walking, carefully lifting your affected knee and placing it gently back on the pool floor. Kicking exercises using a kickboard or by holding on to the side of the pool build strength and can be performed as gently or vigorously as you are able. As you progress, you can use the time in the water to begin cardiovascular training by swimming laps.
