This Joint Needs a Remodel: Understanding and Preparing for Knee Rehabilitation

Knee pain is among the most commonly encountered orthopedic problems. There are many causes of knee pain; some can be addressed by doing stretching and strengthening exercises while others may have to go through surgery.

Knee rehabilitation is crucial in the healing process and for the success of knee operation. Truthfully, knee rehabilitation is an extensive process; the commitment of the patient to remain focused in doing the necessary exercises and rehabilitation activities is a must.

According to kneeclinic.info.com, in the first six weeks of knee rehabilitation, the tissue is very soft, delicate and quite fragile. Gradually, the tissue begins to mature and harden from a gelatin-like consistency to putty-like consistency. The rehabilitation is guided toward protecting the repair surface to allow natural maturation while motion, muscle control, and muscle strength are slowly returned. A patient's recovery depends on size, severity, and location of the cartilage injury, as well as patient age, their physical condition prior to surgery, and the affected knee (right or left).

There are many knee rehabilitation programs that exist to help patients have a speedy recovery. This guide presents various knee rehabilitation activities and exercises you can do at home. However, it is highly recommended that you seek the advice of your attending physician or physical therapist before doing these exercises.