Range of Motion
At this stage of recovery, patients should have full extension (straightening) and be progressing toward full flexion (bending).
Patients should have at least 125 degrees of flexion by week 6, but the last bits of flexion (up to 140/145 degrees) take some time. Here is a LINK to a blog that includes some of my favorite exercises.
Strength / Foundations
From 6 weeks to ~ 3 months, the focus of rehab is on:
- Learning proper form for lunges, squats and similar functional movements (foundation)
- Building the "endurance" aspect of your strength - meaning, building your tolerance for more standing, walking and everyday life.
Common Concerns
It is not uncommon to experiences some aches and pains, particularly at the front of the knee during this stage of rehab.
As patients start to resume their normal, everyday activities, it is easy to "overdo it." The quadriceps "endurance strength" is still recovering and building up, but when we engage in activities beyond its capacity, we tend to overload our knee cap... hence, the achey pain.
It is okay. Recovery is a bit 5 steps forward, 1 step backward. Just listen to your symptoms and tone it done a bit when you realize you have overdone it. Usually it is the simple things, like standing too much or being on your feet too much throughout a given day that can sneak up on us.
