More Knee Excercises

Knee Arthroscopy Exercise Guide

Regular exercise to restore your knee mobility and strength is necessary. For the most part this can be carried out at home. Your orthopaedic surgeon may recommend that you exercise approximately 20 to 30 minutes two or three times a day. You also may be advised to engage in a walking program. Your orthopaedist may suggest some of the following exercises. The following guide can help you better understand your exercise or activity program that may be supervised by a therapist at the direction of your orthopaedic surgeon. As you increase the intensity of your exercise program, you may experience temporary set-backs. If your knee swells or hurts after a particular exercise activity, you should lessen or stop the activity until you feel better. You should Rest, Ice, Compress (with an elastic bandage), and Elevate your knee (R.I.C.E.). Contact your surgeon if the symptoms persist.

Initial Exercise Program

Hamstring Contraction, 10 Repetitions - No movement should occur in thisexercise. Lie or sit with your knees bent to about 10 degrees. Pull your heel into the floor, tightening the muscles on the back of your thigh. Hold 5 seconds,then relax.Repeat 10 times.
Quadriceps Contraction, 10 Repetitions - Lie on stomach with a towel roll under the ankle of your operated knee. Push ankle down into the towel roll. Your leg should straighten as much as possible. Hold for 5 seconds. Relax. Repeat 10 times.

Straight Leg Raises, 10 Repetitions - Lie on your back, with uninvolvedknee bent, straighten your involved knee. Slowly lift about 6 inches and hold for 5 seconds. Continue lifting in 6-inch increments, hold each time. Reverse the procedure, and return to the starting position. Repeat 10 times. Advanced: Beforestarting, add weights to your ankle, starting with 1 pound of weight and buildingup to a maximum of 5 pounds of weight over 4 weeks.
Buttock Tucks, 10 Repetitions - While lying down on your back, tightenyour buttock muscles. Hold tightly for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

Straight Leg Raises, Standing, 10 Repetitions - Support yourself, ifnecessary, and slowly lift your leg forward keeping your knee straight. Return tothe starting position. Repeat 10 times Advanced: Before starting, add weightsto your ankle, starting with 1 pound of weight and building up to a maximumof 5 pounds of weight over 4 weeks.

Intermediate Exercise Program

Terminal Knee Extension, Supine, 10 Repetitions - Lie on your backwith a towel roll under your knee. Straighten your knee (still supported by theroll) and hold 5 seconds. Slowly return to the starting position. Repeat 10 times.Advanced: Before starting, add weights to your ankle, starting with 1 poundof weight and building up to a maximum of 5 pounds of weight over 4 weeks.

Straight Leg Raises, 5 Sets, 10 Repetitions - Lie on your back, withyour uninvolved knee bent. Straighten your other knee with a quadriceps musclecontraction. Now, slowly raise your leg until your foot is about 12 inches fromthe floor. Slowly lower it to the floor and relax. Perform 5 sets of 10 repetitions.Advanced: Before starting, add weights to your ankle, starting with 1 poundof weight and building up to a maximum of 5 pounds of weight over 4 weeks.
Partial Squat, with Chair, 10 Repetitions - Hold onto a sturdy chair orcounter with your feet 6-12 inches from the chair or counter. Do not bend all theway down. DO NOT go any lower than 90 degrees. Keep back straight. Holdfor 5-10 seconds. Slowly come back up. Relax. Repeat 10 times.

Quadricep Stretch - Standing, 10 Repetitions - Standing with the involvedknee bent, gently pull heel toward buttocks, feeling a stretch in the front of the leg.Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

Advanced Exercise Program

Knee Bend, Partial, Single Leg - Stand supporting yourself with the backof a chair. Bend your uninvolved leg with your toe touching for balance as necessary.Slowly lower yourself, keeping your foot flat. Don't overdo this exercise. Straightenup to the starting position. Relax and repeat 10 times.

Step-ups, Forward, 10 Repetitions - Step forward up onto a 6-inch highstool, leading with your involved leg. Step down, returning to the starting position.Increase the height of the platform as strength increases. Repeat 10 times.

Step-ups, Lateral, 10 Repetitions - Step up onto a 6-inch high stool,leading with your involved leg. Step down, returning to the starting position.Increase the height of the platform as strength increases. Repeat 10 times.

Terminal Knee Extension, Sitting, 10 Repetitions - While sitting in a chair,support your involved heel on a stool. Now straighten your knee, hold 5 seconds andslowly return to the starting position. Repeat 10 times.

Hamstring Stretch, Supine, 10 Repetitions - Lie on your back. Bend yourhip, grasping your thigh just above the knee. Slowly straighten your knee until youfeel the tightness behind your knee. Hold for 5 seconds. Relax and repeat 10 times.Repeat with the other leg. If you do not feel this stretch, bend your hip a little more,and repeat. No bouncing! Maintain a steady, prolonged stretch for the maximumbenefit.

Hamstring Stretch, Supine at Wall, 10 Repetitions - Lie next to adoorway, with one leg extended. Place your heel against the wall, and, with yourknee bent, move your hips toward the wall. Now begin to straighten your knee.When you feel the tightness behind your knee, hold for 5 seconds. Relax andrepeat 10 times. The closer you are to the wall, the more intense the stretch.Repeat with the other leg.

Exercise Bike - If you have access to an exercise bike, set the seat high so yourfoot can barely reach the pedal and complete a full revolution. Set the resistance to"light" and progress to "heavy." Start pedaling for 10 minutes a day. Increase theduration by one minute a day until you are pedaling 20 minutes a day.

Walking - An excellent physical exercise activity in the middle stages of yourrecovery from surgery (after 2 weeks).

Running should be avoided until 6-8 weeks because of the impact and shock forcestransmitted to your knee. Both walking and running activities should be graduallyphased into your exercise program.