ACL + Knee Surgery Rehab

Stage Pre-requisites
To enter this program stage at week 1, you must: 1) Have had an Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery, arthroscopic or other ligament repair surgery operation. 2) Have clearance from your Doctor and/or Physiotherapist that you may commence a rehabilitation program. 3) Be at least 4 days post-operative and have no complications from surgery.

Physio Check-In
In the first week, it is advised that you check in and see the Physio for an appointment to review your post-operative state, receive any treatment needed in the first week and make sure you are doing your exercises, that are prescribed, correctly. Physio treatment can help reduce swelling and increase the knee movement.

WEEK 1
WEEKLY INSTRUCTIONS Aims: 0 deg extension (knee straight) and building to get to 90 deg flexion (knee bent) at 2 weeks post-operative. Do the exercises 4 times per day if possible in each section. Keep on the crutches until day 7 with partial weight bearing - meaning you put some weight through the crutches and some through the leg - as tolerated. Then progress to one crutch (on the surgery side). When you walk, don't aim to walk normally - your knee is too stiff and forcing it to bend normally this week will aggravate it. When you go downstairs - lead with the surgery leg and crutches first, and when you go upstairs lead with the good leg. Only once you have good range, less pain and more active quads can you walk up and down normally - this will be about week 4-5. You can start walking through the pool after you have the all-clear from the surgeon.
SPECIAL NOTES Use Ice for pain after and/or before exercises. Compression stocking during the day, but don't use it at night. You can also use it to keep the ice pack in place. Change the dressings as needed if they are seeping. Keep your scar site dry. Usually stitches come out at around day 10 when you see the surgeon/nurse for your review. For sleeping try lying on the non-surgery leg side and a pillow between your legs. If tolerated, you can do extension by putting your heel on a towel and let your knee sag into extension.