Knee Arthroscopy: Rehabilitation Protocol
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Recovery and Rehabilitation
After surgery, you will be moved to the recovery room and you should be able to go home on the day of surgery. Be sure to have someone with you to drive you home and check on you that first evening. After surgery, you will feel some discomfort and swelling in your knee which will settle over a few days. This is a natural part of the healing process.
Your leg may swell after surgery, and you should keep your leg elevated as much as possible for the first few days after surgery.
Pain Relief
You will be discharged home on a combination of paracetamol(Panadol), and anti-inflammatory (Celebrex/Naproxen) and other breakthrough pain relief (Endone/Palexia). If your pain is not managed with these medications, other medications will be prescribed to keep you comfortable.
Dressings/Wounds
You will leave the hospital with a large bandage covering your knee. There are 2 small plastic dressings underneath this bandage covering your surgical sites.
In 2 days you can unwrap the outer bandage to leave the inner dressings intact.
Keep your plastic dressings clean and dry. You can normally have a shower with the knee covered in a plastic bag.
Crutches
Most patients need crutches after arthroscopic surgery for a few days, this is for balance and pain relief. Once you are comfortable around the house you can wean down to one crutch in your opposite hand for a few days, especially when outside the home environment.
Movement after Knee Arthroscopy
It is important that you resume walking and moving quickly after a knee arthroscopy to preserve your muscle strength and condition. Early walking and mobilization also improves blood flow in your leg and prevents blood clots.
Day 0-5 Post Op
Straight leg raises 5 x sets of 10
Calf pumps 3 x sets of 10
Patella Mobilisations exercises
Short arc quads (0-30°)
Mini squats
Cryotherapy – ice and compression with tubigrip/leggings/compression stockings
Week 1-3 Post Op
Wean off crutches
Active assisted range of motion
Straight leg raises with ankle weights
Wall squats 0-60°
Hamstring curls with light resistance
Week 3-6 Post Op
Increase previous range of motion and resistance
Steps
Knee extensions weights
Proprioceptive activities and balance
Treadmill with walking trainer
Hydrotherapy
Week 6+ Post Op
Return to all activities
Agility drills
Plyometrics
Stair climbing machines
Squats and lunges
