Sep 17, 2018 meniscus tear rehab best exercises best exercises to strengthen your legs after a menisectomy. How well the knee will heal and whether surgery will be needed depends in large part on the type of tear and how bad the tear is. Quadriceps strengthening, making sure that closed chain exercises occur. Famous physical therapists bob schrupp and brad heineck demonstrate the top 7 exercises to be performed after a meniscus tear. The meniscus is a rubbery, cshaped disc that cushions your knee.
A 12week exercise therapy program in middleaged patients. Antonio f, raffaello f, erika g, costanza f, patrizia p. Rehabilitation after a meniscus repair is typically different from a resection because of the healing time needed where a meniscus has been stitched. Using therapeutic exercises, a rehabilitation program can be created for athletes who do not wish to pursue surgery. Jan 21, 20 he highlights the importance of walking with crutches in a longleg brace for about 6 weeks after meniscal transplant and complex meniscus repairs extending into central onethird region but not routinely after repair of a peripheral meniscus tear. If you have any questions, please speak to your physiotherapist. Meniscus tear rehab best exercises best exercises to strengthen your legs after a menisectomy.
A torn meniscus is a painful but treatable knee injury that occurs when the knee is turned with force while also bearing significant weight. Often seen in sports and other physical activities, the injury is a tear of the cartilage in the knee rather than the ligaments themselves. Cryotherapy ice six to eight times per for 15 to 20 minutes each time, dependant on swelling. This concept is useful during rehabilitation of the repaired meniscus. The treatment plan was designed for a soccer player who had a partially torn meniscus. In case of majority of meniscus tears, few easy exercises can help preserve muscle strength in the front thigh or quadriceps, back of thigh or hamstrings, hip and calf muscles. If you just found out that the pain and swelling in your knee is a torn meniscus, you probably have a decision to make about how to treat it. Rehabilitation protocol for meniscus repair this protocol is intended to guide clinicians and patients through the postoperative course for a meniscus repair. After meniscal surgery, rehabilitation with a physical therapist or athletic trainer is needed to restore range of motion, strength, movement control and guide the athletes return to sport. Common tears include longitudinal, parrotbeak, flap, bucket handle, and mixedcomplex. A torn meniscus can prevent your knee from working correctly. Exercises usually begin with mobility and isometric static. Symptoms of an acute meniscus tear include swelling, pain along the joint line, catching, locking and a specific injury.
How well the knee will heal and whether surgery will be needed depends in large part on the type of tear see figure in appendix and how bad the tear is. This booklet gives information on the different types of meniscus problems, the evidencebased management options, and how physiotherapy can help. Rehabilitation guidelines for meniscal repair uw health. Her doctor had discovered a meniscus tear in her right knee, but didnt want to do surgery until after the baby was born. Physical therapy exercises in the clinic, and as part of a home exercise program, can help you recover fully from your meniscus injury. Often times these tears can be diagnosed by taking a thorough history and completing a physical examination. Knee arthroscopy exercise guide regular exercise to restore strength and mobility to your knee is important for your full recovery after arthroscopic surgery. For most tears, some simple exercises can help maintain muscle strength in the front of the thigh quadriceps, back. Dont let your pelvis wobble as you move up and down. No active hamstring exercises electrical stimulation in full extension with quad sets and slr. After an injury or surgery, an exercise conditioning program will help you return. When the meniscus root is repaired there will be a prolonged. Rehabilitation guidelines for meniscal repair of root and complex tears. Therapeutic exercises o quadhamstring sets, heel slides, straight leg raises, cocontractions.
While lying on your back, place a rolledup towel under the heel of your. When and where you start rehabilitation will depend on whether you have had surgery or not. This page will explore how and what happens when the menisci become injured a tear and or a rupture. Your orthopaedic surgeon or physical therapist may recommend that you exercise for approximately 20 to 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day. This blood supply is necessary for a tear or a repair to heal.
Gallandkirby acl reconstruction with meniscus repair postsurgical rehabilitation protocol postop days 1 14 dressing. Torn meniscus exercises the good, the bad, the ugly meniscus tear exercises, what to do and what to avoid, especially at the gym. Anterior cruciate ligament acl and meniscus repair. Bridge exercise with an exercise band around your knees. An mri may be used to assist in making the diagnosis. Meniscal tears are the most common lesions followed by the meniscal cyst.
Work with your doctor to plan a rehabilitation rehab program that helps you regain as much strength. Why it is done a decision to remove all or part of your meniscus will take into consideration the location, length, tear pattern, and stability of the tear as well as the condition of the whole meniscus. Your physiotherapist has diagnosed you with a degenerative meniscal tear. Quad isometrics, hs isometrics if posterior horn repair, no hs exercises until 6. As tolerated should be understood to include with safety for the reconstructionrepair. Our medial meniscus rehabilitation program explains this in more detail. Beneficial and repairing knee strengthening exercises for a. Here we outline some exercises for a torn meniscus injury.
Working with a physical therapist can help you regain maximal knee range of motion and strength and can help you return to your normal optimal level of activity. You may do the rest of the exercises when the pain in your knee has decreased. Oct 08, 2017 famous physical therapists bob schrupp and brad heineck demonstrate the top 7 exercises to be performed after a meniscus tear. Physical therapy pt can be useful for a torn meniscus whether or not you have surgery. The menisci keeps your knees steady by balancing your weight. The aim of phase 3 of a meniscus tear rehabilitation program is to ensure full range of movement in the knee, regain normal strength with the ability to perform a full squat and start to return to running and normal training. Keep your pelvis level as you lift your hipspelvis and buttocks into the air. Work with your doctor to plan a rehabilitation rehab program that helps you regain as much strength and flexibility in your knee as possible. An injury can cause altered biomechanics of the knee joint and pain. No study has reported in detail the type of exercises, progression, tolerance, and potential benefit from an exercise therapy program in these patients who have not had surgery.
If you have questions, contact the referring physician. While lying on your back, place a rolledup towel under the heel of your injured leg so the heel is about 6 inches off the ground. That is why it becomes important to carry through certain rehabilitation exercises to help in speeding the healing process of the meniscus muscle and bring about relief. Displaced lateral meniscus tear into the popliteal hiatus can be seen as a characteristic double popliteal sign in mri as the displaced meniscus flap runs on the tibial surface. Athletes, particularly those who play contact sports, are at risk for meniscus tears. Meniscus tear rehabilitation and exercises whatever the form of meniscus treatment, rehab is must for a patient to fully recover from the meniscal tear.
Department of rehabilitation services physical therapy standard of care. Sports injury medicine department 9250 sw hall blvd. This exercise both strengthens the quadriceps and stretches the hamstrings, or the muscles that run up the backs of your thighs. A tear in this red zone may heal on its own, or can often be repaired with surgery. Anterior cruciate ligament acl and meniscus repair rehabilitation protocol transitional therapy a strength and. Exercise is a viable treatment alternative to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in patients with degenerative meniscus tears. Rehabilitation guidelines for meniscal repair of root and. Anterior cruciate ligament acl and meniscus repair rehabilitation protocol general notes. Find out when it helps, what to expect, and how long.
Physical therapy exercises for a knee meniscus tear. Specific intervention should be based on the needs of the individual and should consider exam findings and clinical decision making. A meniscus tear can cause varied complications in a person and lead to a whole lot of pain. The meniscus is a cshaped piece of cartilage in the knee that cushions and acts as a shock absorber between your thigh bone femur and shin bone tibia. When people talk about torn cartilage in the knee, they are usually referring to a torn meniscus. Torn knee meniscus exercises mobility, strengthening. Rehabilitation protocol for meniscal repair rehabilitation guidelines. Manual stretching for extension with overpressure or recurvatum.
If you have a knee meniscus tear, you may benefit from a physical therapy exercise program to rehabilitate your knee. No study has reported in detail the type of exercises, progression, tolerance, and potential benefit from an exercise therapy program in. Meniscus repair rehabilitation program gundersen health system. The medial and lateral menisci play an important role in absorbing force and assisting in the role of nourishing the knee joint. Postoperative instructions knee arthroscopy meniscus root. Meniscus tears are among the most common knee injuries. Nov 16, 2016 introduction to meniscus tear rehabilitation exercises. You have both an inner medial and outer lateral meniscus that help distribute the forces in the knee when you are weightbearing. Meniscus tear rehabilitation exercises health hearty. Articular cartilage is made up of collagen, proteoglycans and water which lines the end of the bones that meet to form a joint. Suggestions for some daily stretches to start with at home. Torn meniscus exercises the good, the bad, the ugly oh.
Place an exercise band around your thighs above your knees. Meniscus rehab exercises the physical therapy advisor. Physiotherapy rehabilitation should concentrate on the early mobilization of the knee tibiofemoral and kneecap patellofemoral joints, and strengthening of your quad, hamstrings, and leg. Pool rehab instead of knee surgery completept pool. Evidence based management of meniscal tears kenneth g. The knee has two menisci, one on the outer edge of the knee and one on the inner edge. The outer onethird of the meniscus has a rich blood supply. For most tears, some simple exercises can help maintain muscle strength in the front of the thigh quadriceps, back of the thigh hamstr. The resumption of sport training is allowed when quadriceps muscle strength is at least 80% in the operated limb compared to the contralateral limb. To ensure that this program is safe and effective for you, it should be performed under your doctors supervision. While lying on your back, place a rolledup towel under the heel of your injured leg so the heel is. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist about which exercises will best help you meet your rehabilitation goals.
The repaired meniscus would benefit from weight bearing forces to compress and. Physical therapy pt and exercises for a meniscus tear rehab. Torn meniscus exercises the good, the bad, the ugly oh my. Do this exercise if you are unable to extend your knee fully.
Rest and elevate the knee when not doing your rehabilitation exercises. Remember to check out this great exercise video for torn meniscus exercises, and you can also read more articles about meniscus injuries. Meniscal cartilage tear exercises summit medical group. The treatment chosen will depend on the location of the tear, the athletes sport, ligamentous stability of the. Rehabilitation exercises a meniscus tear is a common knee joint injury. Also great exercises to do if you have a meniscus tear and want to strengthen your legs in general.