Rehabilitation Of The Knee After Meniscus Operation

Rehabilitation of the knee after the meniscus operation is a process that can be prolonged for a few weeks, depending on the patient’s health status and the type of injury. Its main objective is to help restore the functionality of the joint, as the articular cartilage must adapt to living without the meniscus.

This period is very important for athletes as it allows them to resume their sporting activities without difficulty. In addition, it  is essential to recover muscle tone and strength, which prevents the development of complications or new injuries.

It is normal for patients to have some doubts before starting this phase of treatment. Therefore, to clarify what it consists of and when it starts, let’s review in detail its most relevant aspects.

Why do meniscal injuries occur?

The meniscus is a  fibrocartilage located between the femur and the tibia, giving flexibility and rotation capacity to the knee. It helps the stability of this joint and facilitates the correct distribution of the body’s weight load.

The most common meniscal injury is caused by twisting movements or poor support. However, it can also be the result of a degenerative condition, that is, it gets worse over time.

What is a meniscus operation like?

Surgical methods of knee intervention have evolved over time. Although open surgeries are still performed, an arthroscopic operation is more frequent, which is part of the techniques classified as “minimally invasive”.

This modern procedure reduces the risk of infections by up to 50% and allows for a faster recovery. To perform it,  the doctor uses local or spinal anesthesia and makes an incision in the knee. Then, through that incision, insert an arthroscope.

This surgical instrument, which is approximately the size of a pencil, allows you to know the extent of the lesion through a small camera. After making the recognition, the professional starts using other surgical elements to remove or repair the damaged area of ​​the meniscus.

What are the goals of knee rehabilitation?

Considering that the knee is a complex and delicate structure, it is essential to consider a complete rehabilitation process after the meniscus operation. Failure to perform this recovery leaves the joint susceptible to further injury.

In general, the  goals of the knee rehabilitation process  are:

• Stimulates blood flow to  the area to speed up the recovery process.
• Relieves joint stiffness  that occurs as a side effect of immobilization.
• Prevents atrophy and weakening of muscles affected by inactivity.

When to start knee rehabilitation?

Rehabilitation of the knee after meniscus operation should begin as soon as possible. In fact, as soon as the intervention ends, it is essential to apply some exercises and care that are decisive for recovery. Knee exercises should begin 24 hours after the procedure.

Knee rehabilitation plan after meniscus operation

After undergoing a trauma intervention, such as arthroscopy, it is essential to have access to a joint rehabilitation plan. This complementary treatment  must be carried out progressively, according to the characteristics and evolution of each patient.

Likewise, these aspects have a lot to do with the time required for meniscus rehabilitation.  So, although it  can last from 3 to 5 weeks when it is the internal meniscus, it can also be extended for 7 weeks if it is the external meniscus.

care after surgery

The first measures for knee rehabilitation begin to be applied soon after the operation. It is a series of cares and habits that allow you  to reduce inflammation  before trying to regain joint mobility. These include:

• keep knee high
• Put ice on the affected area
• Use analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain
• Use crutches to avoid supporting all the weight on the operated leg

Rehabilitation Exercises

Much of knee rehabilitation takes place with exercises that are performed under the supervision of a physical therapist. These activities are aimed at healing the knee and helping to resume activities that were interrupted by the injury.

When it comes to following this treatment, it  is important to consider several aspects:

• The exercise program must be accompanied by other therapeutic and preventive measures.
• The chosen activities will have to adapt to the type of injury and intervention performed.
• Training must go through a series of phases in which it is not possible to advance without first meeting a series of objectives. Each of these phases will have to be designed according to the age, physical condition and possible illnesses of the patient.
• It will take many weeks before the patient can do high intensity exercise. For the first 6 weeks, he will not be able to crawl, squat or kneel.

As we’ve already said, the rehabilitation period varies for each patient. It should be noted that  not all respond equally to established exercises and therapies. However, what is certain is that recovery is much faster when it is an arthroscopic procedure rather than a conventional surgery.