Acute Phase (Day 1 - 2 weeks):
- Wear knee brace for ambulation (per physician’s order), with partial weight bearing as tolerated, utilizing bilateral axillary crutches.
- Control edema with compressive bandages, ice, elevation, and ankle pumps.
- Range of motion: 0-60 degrees AAROM & PROM.
- Quad setting isometrics and terminal knee extension exercises.
- Straight leg raises into hip flexion, adduction, and abduction.
- Flexibility: hamstrings & calf stretches.
(2 weeks to 4 weeks)
- Continue brace and crutches for ambulation (if pt demonstrates poor quadriceps control); otherwise, progress to single crutch to full weight bearing with no assistive device.
- Continue to control edema.
- Range of motion: 0-90 degrees AAROM & PROM.
- Add in multiple angle isometrics for the knee extension.
- At 4 weeks add in light resistance leg press.
- Vertical step-ups.
- Partial wall squats (0-45 degrees).
Subacute Phase (5 to 8 weeks):
- Ambulation full weight bearing.
- -Range of motion: 0-115 degrees at 5 weeks, 0-125 degrees at 6 weeks, 0-135 degrees at 8 weeks.
- Begin knee extension machine.
- Stationary bike.
- Single leg balance and proprioceptive training.
- Treadmill for endurance.
Minimum Protection Phase/ Return to Activities (8+ weeks):
- Full range of motion.
- Wall squats (0-60 degrees).
- Forward lunges .
- Lateral step-ups (2”. 4”, 6”, 8”).
- Stair climber.
- Jogging at 8 weeks.
- Plyometrics at 10-12 weeks.
- Functional/ sports specific drills at 10-12 weeks.
