ACL injury rehab in Malvern, PA

ACL injury rehab in Malvern, PA

It is difficult to be knocked out of your favorite game due to injury.  This post will help those who no longer participate in the sports because of ACL injury. Understand how physical therapy plays important role in your recovery.

ACL injury can occur in two different ways:

In contact mechanism a blow to the outer side of the knee results not only ACL tear but also in MCL and medial meniscus, usually termed the “Unholy triad” injury; whereas in non-contact mechanism lower leg twists on a planted foot.

Common symptoms after ACL injury:

Knee pain or swelling that lasts for 48 hours, instability and popping or giving out while walking, inability to put weight on knee while walking, knee bending to guard injured area are the common signs and symptoms one may experience after ACL injury.

What do you experience after ACL injury?

In acute stage, knee cannot bear weight and the person needs assistance while walking; while in complete tear, there is instability, and the knee gives out while walking.

In cases of acute sprain or partial tears, conservative treatments are enough for return to a desired level of function as long as you are not returning to sports or high-level work activities.

Conservative treatment includes RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) followed by Physical therapy exercises after acute phase of healing.

Physical therapy exercises play important role after ACL injuries.

Whether or not you need surgery, physical therapy helps to regain normal ROM (range of motion), balance control, normalization of gait, strengthening of muscles that support and stabilize knee joint during functional activities.

Quadriceps and hamstring strengthening are crucial in ACL rehab exercises as it may help to avoid or delay the surgery. ACL rehab alone may be enough for elderly people, or those who do not want to return to sports or high-level activities. Also, research shows that pre-op ACL rehab gives positive long-lasting effects after surgery and speeds up surgical recovery.

Performing these ACL rehab exercises under an expert’s supervision is important to ensure that the exercises are appropriate and the progression is right for you; otherwise, you may risk your ACL recovery and end up with a weak supporting structure around the knee which could lead to an unstable knee and the re-injuring of your knee in the future.

Learn more about how can a physical therapist help in ACL injury recovery. If your knee pain persists after conservative treatment at home after injury, schedule an appointment with Potential Physical Therapy to start your care with specialist guidance.

Here are few strengthening exercises you may perform to strengthen the knee joint after ACL injury.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrAKJrh_QAY

ACL injury/reconstruction rehab exercises

ACL injury can result from twisting the knee on a planted foot, from bending the knee back too far after landing from a jump. One may have pain and swelling, or the knee might buckle or give way with ACL injury. Physical therapy exercises plays important role in recovery before or after surgery. Here are few strengthening exercises that help during recovery.

Posted by Potential Physical Therapy on Thursday, May 28, 2020

About Potential Physical Therapy:

Our physical therapist designs a personalized exercise program according to individual needs for your ACL injury. We use an evidence-based approach to educate and treat you that speeds up your recovery. We teach proper form of exercises and home exercise programs for faster recovery. In most of the cases physical therapy will be enough to recover from an ACL injury. Contact Potential Physical Therapy today to learn more about our programs and how they can help relieve your pain.

Call (610) 249-0001 with any questions and we will be happy to assist you.

 

 

5 best strategies to alleviate knee pain

Knee pain a very common problem that can occur at any age group. Learn strategies to help alleviate pain, and how Potential Physical Therapy in Malvern, PA can help.

One may have knee pain secondary to trauma/injury at very young age; athletes are most prone to have ACL injury causing knee pain; osteoarthritis is the common cause of knee pain in older adults; and the list goes on. In this article we examine common knee problems and how they affect one’s ability to function, and what common strategies are to assist in alleviating knee pain.

Common knee problems:

Anterior knee pain

Patello-femoral pain/chondromalacia patella

Patellar tendinitis/Jumper’s knee

Knee osteoarthritis

IT band friction syndrome

Quadriceps muscle strain

Meniscal tear

Ligament tear (ACL/MCL/PCL/LCL)

Most of the knee problems result in loss of flexion range and extension, swelling within joint, less motion and increased stiffness and reflex quadriceps inhibition that may cause quadriceps lag. A patient with arthritis can also develop disturbed balance responses. In a few cases, depending upon age, the pathophysiology or cause of the pain is crucial to determine in order to take care of the underlying problem right away and prevent it from getting worse. Not attending to the underlying issue could lead to the need for knee replacement surgery.

Following are the 5 best strategies one can incorporate in their daily routine for long term pain relief:

  1. Control pain with the help of an ice pack for 20 min if it is acute pain (< 3months) and use a hot pack for 20 min if it is chronic pain (> 3months).
  2. Maintain muscle function and prevent joint adhesions by gentle muscle setting exercise like quad sets at different angles and stretching exercise e.g. Quadricep stretches, Hamstring stretches, TFL/ITB stretches.
  3. Protect the joint by wearing a knee brace/sleeve or by using assistive devices. It is strongly recommended that you see a physical therapist before deciding which option is best for you.
  4. Avoid bed positioning that promotes knee flexion contracture.
  5. Make functional adaptations till the point that your pain is relieved and your muscles are strong enough to perform ADLs without discomfort. Examples for functional adaptation may include the minimization of stair climbing, the use of elevated seats on commodes, and the avoidance of deep seats or low chairs.

Along with these strategies it is wise to perform strengthening exercises to achieve long-term pain relief.

Learn more about exercises for knee/patella pain

https://www.instagram.com/p/By5uH9qHJMS/?igshid=jukj9aoajk0l

 

Every knee pain is different and needs a specific approach to be treated, and for this reason it is important to consult a physical therapist or doctor before starting any exercise program.

Call us if you have any question about your knee pain, we will be happy to assist you.

Contact Potential Physical Therapy

 

Reference articles:

https://www.niams.nih.gov/newsroom/spotlight-on-research/physical-therapy-treat-torn-meniscus-comparable-surgery-many

https://www.moveforwardpt.com/SymptomsConditionsDetail.aspx?cid=b92021cb-a1ec-4f20-8b7e-37d62bc1a52e