Initial exercises should be non-weight bearing in nature and should focus on gentle strengthening of the muscles surrounding the knee as well as increasing joint range of motion.
What to Expect
Initially, you will experience some swelling and discomfort in the knee for a few days post-operatively. You will most likely be given a prescription for pain medication and an anti-inflammatory drug to help alleviate these symptoms.
You should expect to feel a gentle stretch while performing your knee exercises, but you should not experience any pain. Any activity that causes significant discomfort should be stopped immediately. It is also a good idea to ice and elevate your leg after performing these exercises to decrease any increase in swelling.
The following exercises are appropriate for immediate post-arthroscopy rehabilitation. The movements should be gentle and steady. Bouncing or over-stretching should be avoided. Read on to review these four exercises.
Lay on your back on a flat surface. Place a rolled towel under your ankle between you and the surface. Tighten the muscles on the top of the thigh and attempt to push the back of your knee down toward the ground. This will cause your knee to straighten as it moves toward the surface you are laying on. Straighten your knee as much as possible and hold the position for 5 seconds. (Avoid any type of bouncing motion. )Relax and repeat 10 more times.
Lie on your back with your knees bent at a 10- to 15-degree angle. Without moving your leg, pull your heel into the floor, as if you were trying to bend your knee, but the floor is preventing motion from happening. This will cause the hamstring muscles on the back of your thigh to contract. Hold this for 5 seconds. Relax and repeat 10 more times.
Lie on your back with your knees bent at a 10- to 15-degree angle. Squeeze your buttock muscles together, like you are holding back flatulence. Hold for 5 seconds. Relax and repeat 10 more times.
Lie on your back on a flat surface. Bend the knee of your uninvolved leg (the one that wasn’t operated on) to a 90-degree angle with your foot flat on the surface. Keep your involved leg straight without the knee bent. Slowly lift the involved leg 6 inches off the floor (by contracting the front thigh muscles). Hold for five seconds. Slowly lower your leg to the floor. Relax and repeat 10 more times.
The knee of the raised leg should remain straight throughout this exercise. Focus on lifting by using the muscles on the front of your hip joint.
A Word From Verywell
After a knee scope, exercise can be your main tool to help you restore normal range of motion and strength. This can help you regain normal walking and running ability. Check in with your orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist after knee arthroscopy, and then get started on knee exercises to quickly and safely get back to your normal activity level.
