The basic tenets of successful post-op knee arthroscopy recovery are:
1. REDUCING SWELLING
2. RESTORING JOINT RANGE
3. BRACING THE LEG BACK TO LOCKING THE KNEE STRAIGHT
Knee straightening is brought about by the vastus medialis muscle of the inner side of your thigh. It straightens the knee through its last 15 degrees until it locks and you can stand on the leg without it buckling using minimal effort. If the knee stays swollen after surgery - apart from being more painful - it will be more difficult to straighten. Failing to walk properly on the knee after arthroscopy may ultimately cause the procedure to fail.
The video below takes you through each stage.
You can download your 'Phase 1 Post-Op Arthroscopy Treatment' video here
Gentle fingertip pressures as if bending the butterfly's knees, to evacuate excess swelling from the knee
Gentle knee bending-and-straightening on the bed through a tiny range
Circular and up-and-down ankle movements to pump fluid from the foot up past the compression bandage at the knee
Lifting the straight leg up off the bed, in preparation for getting it to the floor
With the leg to the floor, straightening the knee with small and gentle bouncing movements to coax the leg straight
Weight transferring through the straight knee in preparation for taking the first steps
Straightening the knee while weight-bearing requires the bracing action of vastus medialis through the last 15 degrees
This stepping through action on the braced knee minimises bone-against-bone erosion of the cartilage bed and should be the blue-print for all future steps - all 10,000 per day!
Applying a block of ice to the skin around the knee
to reduce pain and swelling after exercising
By 24 hours the bandage is replaced with doubled-over Tubigrip and 'straight-leg-raise'
lifting the leg exercises on the bed commence
By the end of the 2nd day post-op, starting the knee straightening from 90 degrees
Bringing the toes back helps straighten the knee, with no extension lag