POSTSURGICALMENISCALREPAIRREHABILITATIONPROTOCOL:

Thisisanoutlineofthemajorexercisesthatarecommonlyincorporated.Individualpatientresponse
shouldbeconsideredandthereforemodificationsmayneedtobemade.Communicationshouldbe
madetotheSurgeonifconcernsariseduringrehabilitation.
Theoverallgoalsoftherehabilitationisto:

Controljointpain,swelling,hemarthrosis(minimalornone).

Regainnormalkneeflexionandextension.

Regainanormalgaitpatternandneuromuscularstabilityforambulation.

Regainnormalquadriceps,hamstringlowerextremitymusclestrength.

Regainnormalproprioception,balance,andcoordinationfordesiredactivities.

Achieveoptimalfunctionaloutcomebasedonorthopaedicandpatientgoals.

POSTOPDAYS17(20REPS)
GOALS:

Painreduction.

Fullpassiveextension.

Flexion0to45degrees.
o Goodquadcontrol.
o Ankletoemovements/calfpumping.
o Isometricquads.
o Graduallypainfreepassiveassistedkneebending045degrees.
o
o
o
o

Passivekneeextension.
Straightlegraise(SLR).
AbductionandadductionROMathip.
IcePackapplication15minsevery3hourswithkneeinfullextension,compressionandelevation.
Walkingonwalkernonweightbearingfor3weeks.

DAYS814(20REPS)
GOALS

ROM4560degrees.
Noeffusion.
Noextensorlag.
o Iceapplicationasprescribed.
o Activeassistedkneebending4560degrees.
o
o
o
o
o

Activekneeextension.
Activedynamickneeextensionedgeofthebed(900degrees).
IsometricquadsanddynamicVMOstrengthening.
SLR
Glutes,hipabductorandadductorsstrengthening.
Walkingwithwalkernonweightbearing.

WEEKS23(accordingly)
GOAL:

ROM60to90.
o Activekneebending6090degrees.
o

Continueappropriatepreviousexercises.

WEEKS36(accordingly)
GOALS:

ROMto90120degrees.

Walkingwithwalkerpartialtofullweightbearing.
o Iceapplicationasprescribed.
o Activekneebending90120degrees.
o Activekneeextension.
o Activedynamickneeextensionedgeofthebed(900degrees).
o IsometricquadsanddynamicVMOstrengthening.
o SLR
o Glutes,hipabductorandadductorsstrengthening.
o Heelandtoeraises.
o Walkingwithwalkerpartialtofullweightbearing,longkneebrace(45weeks).
o Walkingwithtripodfullweightbearing,hingekneebrace(56weeks).
o Staircaseclimbing.

WEEKS68
GOALS:

FullpainlessROM.

NormalGait.
o Activefullrangekneebending.
o Cocontractionquadsandhamstring.
o Continueappropriatepreviousexercises.
o Minisquatsandwallsquats045degrees.
o StandingSLRandhipmovementswithlightTherabandbilaterally.
o Forward,lateralandretrostepdownsinparallelbars
o Walkingwithoutsupportwithhingekneebrace.
WEEKS810
GOAL:

Walk2milesat15min/milepace.
o D/CBrace.

o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Continueappropriatepreviousexercises.
Wallsquats090degrees.
ProprioceptivetrainingSinglelegBAPS,balltossandbodyblade.
Stationarybike1015minutesatatime.
TreadmillWalkingprogressionprogram.
Ellipticaltrainer.
PooltherapyWalking/running(nokicking)

WEEKS1012
GOAL:

Walk3milesat15min/milepace.
o Continueappropriatepreviousexerciseswithprogressiveresistance.

o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Fitter.
Slideboard.
ProprioceptivetrainingGridexercises.
FunctionalactivitiesFigure8s,gentleloops,largezigzags.
StairmasterSmallsteps.
PooltherapyNoswimminglaps.
Quadstretches.

MONTHS34
GOAL:

Run2milesateasypace.
o Isokinetictestingat180and300degrees/sec.
o Musthave80%ofoppositelegtoclearforstraightlinerunning.
o Continueappropriatepreviousexercises.
o Kneeextensionweightmachine.
o Shortarcquads.
o Agilitydrills/Plyometrics.
o TreadmillRunningprogressionprogramifcleared.
o PooltherapySwimminglaps.

MONTHS46
GOAL:

Returntoallactivities.
o RepeatIsokinetictestingasneeded.
o Continueappropriatepreviousexercises.
o Situpprogression.
o Runningprogressiontotrack.
o Transitiontohome/gymprogram.