Hi, just found your videos. My 18yr old son just came home from his surgery ACL/MCL (not meniscus) with patella & hamstring graft. He’s a strong athletic young man & has been strengthening pre op. He has come home with a brace. Please can help with a few questions. 1) good to see your hypertension videos re after ACL surgery as obviously most info is about getting to that elusive 90+ degree flexion when it is obviously just as important for extension. First question is that I purchased my son a special scooped out raised leg support for the bed as I had seen so many people who had surgery say they wished they had this support whilst in bed as initially you are either sitting up or lying in bed (outside of exercises, showering). The physio said nothing about raising his leg (to stop swelling etc) and to just sleep with the brace with his leg flat. After seeing your videos I can understand extension is good but for the first week isn’t good to eliminate any swelling by raising your leg higher? Please clarify your opinion. 2) I’ve bought an automatic Aircast cryo cooler knee cuff. When can he take the brace off to use the ice machine?? Many thanks for any clarification. 😊
Hi, thanks for sharing your son's story and for the questions. We highly suggest you speak to the surgeon who performed the surgery and the physiotherapist he will be working with because that is who should be guiding his rehab. We will give you our opinion on your questions, but it is not medical advice and you should defer to the surgeon and his physiotherapist. 1) You can elevate the leg in the brace to work on extension and help with stagnant swelling. Inflammation is a natural healing process of the knee, but having excessive swelling with contribute to pain/discomfort, quad inhibition, stiffness and limiting knee range of motion. In our opinion, we want to get the knee moving in a safe range of motion as soon as possible. 2)) As long as the surgeon is good with the wound/incision site and him getting out of the brace, then that machine would be good for him to use to help with pain modulation. Hope that helps
Prior to surgery, as much as possible, decrease swelling, improve range of motion, normalize walking pattern, and maintain/improve as much muscle activation and strength
Idk if this will help you cause I got a cadaver graft and has surgery two months ago. My physical therapist has me get ankle weights if you could and lay with your stomach on a bed or something big enough to hang your legs off with them just at your knees so it’s forced to straighten. I was at -3 degrees on one appointment Thursday, gave me that exercise that’s only two minutes. Also walking backwards helps a lot too
I haven't achieved full extension and flexion. It's been 4 months my ACL reconstruction has been done. When the muscle is cold it hurts to do flexion and extension. But with warm up I can manage. What do do?
Hi, sorry to hear. It's common to not have full range of motion yet, but it depends on how much range of motion you have at this point. If it is extremely limited, schedule a follow-up appointment with your surgeon or physical therapist to help you figure out what. In the meantime, bike/warm up your muscles and joint before doing your bending/extending exercises and continue doing it multiple times a day.
Hi, just found your videos. My 18yr old son just came home from his surgery ACL/MCL (not meniscus) with patella & hamstring graft. He’s a strong athletic young man & has been strengthening pre op. He has come home with a brace. Please can help with a few questions.
1) good to see your hypertension videos re after ACL surgery as obviously most info is about getting to that elusive 90+ degree flexion when it is obviously just as important for extension.
First question is that I purchased my son a special scooped out raised leg support for the bed as I had seen so many people who had surgery say they wished they had this support whilst in bed as initially you are either sitting up or lying in bed (outside of exercises, showering). The physio said nothing about raising his leg (to stop swelling etc) and to just sleep with the brace with his leg flat. After seeing your videos I can understand extension is good but for the first week isn’t good to eliminate any swelling by raising your leg higher? Please clarify your opinion.
2) I’ve bought an automatic Aircast cryo cooler knee cuff. When can he take the brace off to use the ice machine?? Many thanks for any clarification. 😊
Hi, thanks for sharing your son's story and for the questions. We highly suggest you speak to the surgeon who performed the surgery and the physiotherapist he will be working with because that is who should be guiding his rehab. We will give you our opinion on your questions, but it is not medical advice and you should defer to the surgeon and his physiotherapist.
1) You can elevate the leg in the brace to work on extension and help with stagnant swelling. Inflammation is a natural healing process of the knee, but having excessive swelling with contribute to pain/discomfort, quad inhibition, stiffness and limiting knee range of motion. In our opinion, we want to get the knee moving in a safe range of motion as soon as possible.
2)) As long as the surgeon is good with the wound/incision site and him getting out of the brace, then that machine would be good for him to use to help with pain modulation.
Hope that helps
Also, how long after the surgery should you be attempting this. Can you do it with a brace on or should you wait approx 2wks?
You can do it in the brace
What if you do it BEFORE surgery?
Is there any stretch or movement exercises to relieve the pain??? I'm dieing in this pain 😖
Prior to surgery, as much as possible, decrease swelling, improve range of motion, normalize walking pattern, and maintain/improve as much muscle activation and strength
im like 8 months and havent hit hyperextension with hamstring graft. is this bad
Idk if this will help you cause I got a cadaver graft and has surgery two months ago.
My physical therapist has me get ankle weights if you could and lay with your stomach on a bed or something big enough to hang your legs off with them just at your knees so it’s forced to straighten.
I was at -3 degrees on one appointment Thursday, gave me that exercise that’s only two minutes.
Also walking backwards helps a lot too
I haven't achieved full extension and flexion. It's been 4 months my ACL reconstruction has been done. When the muscle is cold it hurts to do flexion and extension. But with warm up I can manage. What do do?
Hi, sorry to hear. It's common to not have full range of motion yet, but it depends on how much range of motion you have at this point. If it is extremely limited, schedule a follow-up appointment with your surgeon or physical therapist to help you figure out what. In the meantime, bike/warm up your muscles and joint before doing your bending/extending exercises and continue doing it multiple times a day.