A patella fracture is a direct break in the bone of your kneecap. Depending on the severity of the trauma, the fracture could be a hairline fracture or much greater in size. Although surgery may be required, the injury can also heal with the aid of immobilization and consistent icing. Once you have properly rested your knee, you should perform range of motion and strengthening exercises to execute a full and efficient recovery.
Leg Extensions
After weeks of inactivity, performing simple range of motion and stretching exercises will help you stretch out the ligaments and muscles that have tightened up over the past few weeks. To perform a basic leg extension, lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Extend your injured leg out until it is parallel to the ground. Hold this position for several seconds before bringing your leg back to its original position. Repeat this motion with both legs until fatigued.
Weight Bearing Exercises
After weeks of rehabilitation, weight bearing exercises are an important step to making a full recovery. Stand between a set of parallel bars for balance. Placing both hands on the bars, walk slowly and evenly between the bars. As you improve, start shifting more weight onto your legs as you walk through the parallel bars, eventually removing your hands from the bars entirely as you walk. After successfully walking several yards unassisted, try walking backward as well as sideways to develop your lateral movement.
Static Cycle
Once you have improved your range of motion in your legs, riding on a static cycle will help boost your cardiovascular health as well as further improve your leg strength and range of motion. Start by riding at a slow and even pace with zero resistance. If you feel no pain after several minutes, increase the resistance to the lowest level. As you strength returns, continue to add resistance, building up the muscles around your knee and lower legs.
Knee-ups
Knee-ups will improve your range of motion as well as build strength in the muscles around your knees. Stand to the left of a chair with your right hand on the back of the chair for balance. With light ankle weights on both of your ankles, bend your injured knee, lifting the foot off the ground and bringing your knee up toward your chest. Slowly lower your leg back down. Repeat this motion 10 times, alternating between legs until fatigued.
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