Knee Surgeon Perth | ACL Reconstruction Recovery
7 Tips
7 tips to make recovery from ACL reconstruction surgery easier
ACL reconstruction recovery | Knee SURGEON PERTH
7 tips to make recovery from ACL reconstruction surgery easier
The first few weeks after ACL reconstruction surgery are by far and away the most important in terms of the long term results. With all types of shoulder and knee reconstruction surgery, getting away to a good start can take months off the recovery time. Equally, getting away to a slow start can add months to the recovery.
Here are the seven most important things to consider in the early weeks of your ACL rehabilitation:
1. Control your pain
2. Reduce swelling
Swelling is part of the inflammatory response induced by the trauma of surgery. It causes joint stiffness and the muscles stop working. Swelling is treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE).
Wear a compression Tubigrip sleeve on the knee for as long as the swelling persists, which may be weeks.
There is no such thing as too much ice in the early stages. Three to four 15 minute sessions a day is desirable. Excellent results can be obtained with the GameReady device used by professional sport teams. It can be hired through some physiotherapists.
3. Restore full straightening
Achieving a completely straight knee (referred to as extension) is actually the single most important thing following ACL reconstruction surgery.
However, to get it out fully straight, you will need to have your pain under control and reduce the swelling. Do an extension stretch exercise repeatedly throughout the day.
If you are lying down or sitting, have the leg out straight with the heel propped on a pillow to gently force the knee straight. Remember that stretching exercises are a low load, long duration. Stretch and hold.
A knee that does not fully straighten causes a permanent limp.
To assess your progress from week to week, lie flat on the bed and attempt to put a hand under your knee.
By the end of week six, there should not be enough room to slide your hand easily between the back of your knee and the bed. The knee should be fully straight by the end of week twelve at the absolute latest.
4. Get the knee bending
Difficulty with knee bending (or flexion) is much less common following ACL reconstruction surgery. It is very safe to bend the knee and the physiotherapist will have you onto the CPM machine day one after surgery. The bending won’t come back without some gentle pushing on your part. Start with the drop and dangle exercise in my rehabilitation program.
Some people are apprehensive about damaging their reconstruction. This can be a mistake as it leads to inadequate rehabilitation and stiffness. The reconstruction is stronger than you think and won’t be damaged by forceful extension or bending in the early weeks.
5. Don't forget about the kneecap
6. Get the quads going
7. Walk
ACL reconstruction recovery | Knee SURGEON PERTH
CO.RE ACL
In the field of shoulder and knee reconstruction, successful outcomes from an operation are 50% surgery and 50% rehabilitation. You could say the surgery is the easy bit, the rehabilitation is all hard slog.
Dr Colvin’s CO.RE exercise programs are just that, a core plan for your successful recovery.