The knee

(vii) The role of physiotherapy in rehabilitation of soft tissue injuries of the knee

“…6 Following knee injury and surgery, quadriceps inhibition, atrophy and weakness are major clinical problems. 1 Quadriceps weakness, therefore, can leave the knee vulnerable to excessive tension, compression and torsion forces, potentially risking re-injury in the short-term and OA in the long-term. As such, reversal of quadriceps weakness and restoration of quadriceps strength is a clinical priority following all knee injuries and surgeries.…”

“…strength training, balance training, plyometric training) can, therefore, be considered as 'proprioception training' since it will elicit a strong barrage of sensory impulses to the CNS from the most potent muscle mechanoreceptors and joint mechanoreceptors. 1,6 Muscle strength training…”

“…A clinically useful initial criteria for when a patient can be weaned off crutches is when full active knee extension is achieved. 1 When full active knee extension is achieved, seated dynamic knee extensions can be commenced against progressively increasing external loads, provided by elastic tubing, ankle-weights ( Figure 4) and resistance training machines. Published RCTs provide examples for the magnitude of load, number of sets and number of repetitions that can safely be performed during seated dynamic knee extension exercise for a variety of knee injuries.…”

“…There can be major differences of opinion between clinical research groups with regards to how rehabilitation should be performed following soft tissue knee injury. 1 Although there are certainly unique rehabilitation considerations for certain types of knee injury and surgery (e.g. anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction vs. posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction), there are also generic principles and methods of rehabilitation that can be applied following all types of injury and surgery.…”

“…anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction vs. posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction), there are also generic principles and methods of rehabilitation that can be applied following all types of injury and surgery. 1 Physiotherapy is an important part of rehabilitation following soft tissue injury of the knee. The purpose of this paper is to offer the reader advice and instruction on specific aspects of physiotherapy practice for conservative and post-surgical rehabilitation of knee soft tissue injuries.…”