Monday, May 16, 2011

Rehabilitation after ACL Tear: Immediately Post-Op

Immediately after surgery, the knee will be swollen and inflamed. For the first 10 - 14 days after surgery, the main focus is on reducing the inflammation. Depending on the surgeon, formal rehabilitation will be held for the first 2 weeks. The injured athlete should be careful with the woulds from the portal even though they might not be large. There is still a risk of surface infection at the portal sites. The knee might be placed in a rigid knee brace to protect the reconstructed knee. Or the athlete may not even wear any type of brace depending on the surgeon's preference. CPM (continuous passive motion) and PROM (passive range of motion) exercise can be initiated immediately after surgery. However, it is dependent on surgeon's protocol. Ice and NSAIDs are used to reduce and control inflammation. Elevating the knee above the heart may also help to reduce swelling.

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