How Long Will I Be Off Work After Meniscus Repair

What is Arthroscopic Knee joint Surgery?

Arthroscopic knee joint surgery involves making a minor incision through the skin then doctors tin diagnose and treat knee joint problems. A pocket-size photographic camera is inserted through the incision, which then displays images of the articulatio genus.

From here, surgeons can insert modest medical instruments to perform a surgical debridement, which is the removal of dead, damaged or infected tissue. This process helps the healthy tissue in the area heal.

Surgical debridement of the human knee can include:

Removing torn areas of meniscus tissue
Removing loose bodies
Removing and cleaning up areas of cartilage damage
Other minimally invasive procedures that do non include any repairs

What is a Human knee Meniscectomy?

The surgical removal of a torn meniscus is called a meniscectomy, which is a type of arthroscopic knee surgery. The meniscus is a cushion for your knee joint and helps go on your knee joint steady past balancing your weight.

Meniscus tears are nigh common in the articulatio genus joints and are usually caused past twisting or turning the knee quickly.

Arthroscopic Knee joint Surgery Recovery

After a meniscectomy, your surgeon will probable advise physical therapy to put you on the all-time path toward recovery. The day after your surgery, yous will demand to see your physical therapist to:

Change your dressings
Take initial measurements
Learn an initial home exercise program

Your physical therapist will as well review information virtually what to expect, how to accept care of your incisions and how to manage your pain. Handouts outlining everything you will learn will be provided.

Physical therapy appointments will exist scheduled twice a calendar week for approximately vi to 8 weeks.

Walking with Crutches

Some patients are released from the surgical middle with crutches, but almost can walk immediately. If you were given crutches, nosotros will probable encourage you to cease using them as soon as possible.

Returning to Work & Daily Activities

Most people tin can get back to desk-bound work, school or sedentary action 3 to 5 days later on surgery.

If your correct knee was operated on, it may be upwards to 2 weeks before the knee joint is stiff plenty to hit the brakes to bulldoze safely. For heavy work, information technology may have 4 to six weeks before the leg is strong plenty to allow for working. You should never bulldoze or operate heavy mechanism if you are nevertheless taking prescription pain relievers.

Returning to Sports

Approximately iv weeks afterward surgery, patients typically begin to perform college level activities during concrete therapy visits.

With your concrete therapist's guidance at 4 to half dozen weeks, you will brainstorm the gradual transition back to your sport. However, your surgeon volition make the final decision nigh your full return to activity.

Week-by-Week Rehabilitation

Weeks 0 to 2

During the first few weeks of your arthroscopic knee surgery recovery, you should be begetting weight as tolerated with crutches. You should exist progressing to full weight bearing without the use of crutches.

Range of Movement (ROM)

0 to 125 degrees is expected

Rehab Exercises

- Quad sets, glute sets
- Ankle pumps
- Hamstring and calf stretches
- Multi-bending isometrics for quads (90 to 60 degrees)
- Direct leg raises (multi-plane)
- Knee extension, open chain 90 to 40 degrees
- Patellar mobs
- Heel slides to tolerance
- Bicycle for ROM
- Passive range of movement (PROM) focused on improving full extension ROM
- Standing weight shifts
- Standing mini squats 0 to xxx degrees
- Low-level balance and proprioceptive exercises in standing
  - Proprioceptive exercises focus on the ability to sense movement within joints.

Weeks 2 to 4

Range of Motion (ROM)

Full ROM is expected

Rehab Exercises

Go on exercises from weeks 0 to 2 and all passive and active ROM
Standing hamstring curls
Bilateral protected ROM leg press
Bicycle for ROM and light cardiovascular endurance with no resistance
Stationary mini-lunge forward
Stride-ups
Dogie raises (continuing bilateral –> unilateral)
Wall slides
Progress standing balance and proprioceptive exercises
Pool walking program once incisions are fully closed

Weeks iv to vi

Rehab Exercises

Keep exercises from previous weeks and all passive and active ROM as needed
Step-downs
Lateral stride-ups
Squats (increased ROM)
Stair stepper machine <twenty minutes
Continue with exercises to reach final knee extension
Bike for cardiovascular endurance with calorie-free to moderate resistance

Weeks vi to viii

During these weeks and the following weeks, at that place are no restrictions to activities of daily living (ADLs).

Rehab Exercises

Continue exercises from previous weeks
Accelerate closed kinetic chain (CKCs) and functional exercises
Begin walking plan for cardiovascular endurance
Gradually increase fourth dimension on stair stepper for cardio endurance
Functional motility screen (FMS) at viii weeks

Weeks eight to 12

Rehab Exercises

Light plyometrics (leap training) if good hip and human knee mechanics, gradually advancing
Linear forward jogging in curt bouts, gradually progressing jog intervals
Perturbation training (also known as improving reaction times)
May initiate gentle yoga
Initiate elliptical for cardiovascular endurance
Initiate frontward agility drills (progressing to lateral as appropriate)
Begin a forcefulness and conditioning plan, like Access Acceleration

Week 12+

During this fourth dimension period, your surgeon must clear you before you're able to return to your sport.

Rehab Exercises

Progress jogging program, intervals and/or dart training
Sport-specific preparation as needed: cutting, jumping, deep squats, etc.