Postoperative Knee Rehabilitation – ACL, Meniscus?

One of the common reasons clients come to us is postoperative rehabilitation of the anterior or posterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and removal or suturing of the meniscus.

The duration of rehabilitation depends on the severity of the injury and the segment that was injured, and for full recovery it can vary from 4 weeks to 3 months in the case of the anterior cruciate ligament.

Therapy is tailored individually, which means that when working with a client we combine various manual techniques, electrotherapy and targeted therapeutic exercises to restore full range of motion after surgery, depending on the current condition.

ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT (ACL)

In anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rehabilitation, our goal is to achieve the greatest possible range of motion and to work gradually on strengthening the musculature, with an emphasis on the quadriceps muscle – the main stabiliser of the knee. We work on manually mobilising the knee to achieve the full range of motion that is essential for further strengthening and a return to function.

We use mobilisation techniques for the patella, electrotherapy (electrical stimulation, ultrasound and laser) and muscle strengthening, starting with static contractions, gradually introducing concentric contractions and, in the final phase, eccentric contractions. If needed, we can also include high-tech devices in the therapeutic process, such as TECAR therapy and Super Inductive System therapy (SIS).

After anterior cruciate ligament surgery, swelling is also often present, which causes pain and limits range of motion, which is why we also use lymphatic drainage in the initial sessions.

At our polyclinic, we most often treat tears or ruptures of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and ligament reconstructions.

MENISCUS

As with the anterior cruciate ligament, postoperative meniscus rehabilitation is indicated to restore full knee function. Swelling is often present after surgery, which is why in the early stages of rehabilitation we combine cryotherapy and manual lymphatic drainage to reduce pain and the swelling that limits range of motion. Alongside lymphatic drainage, we also combine various manual techniques for mobilising the knee and targeted therapeutic exercises to strengthen the musculature and restore range of motion in the knee. We use electrotherapy to warm the muscles deeply and reduce pain.

In addition to postoperative meniscus rehabilitation, at our polyclinic we also frequently treat meniscus tears (ruptures) and provide therapy after meniscus suturing.

After rehabilitation, we can expect:

• Full range of motion in the knee;
• Normal circulation and the return of muscle strength;
• Full knee function!