Physiotherapy exercises for the knee joint

There are many different diseases that occur as a result of knee joint injury. In the case of injuries of the lower limbs, doctors prescribe exercise therapy somewhere on the third day after the onset of trauma.

During the period of wearing a cast bandage, exercise therapy with knee joint injuries is used to prevent the appearance of intraarticular adhesions, improve lympho- and blood circulation, to strengthen regenerative processes, to prevent joint stiffness and reduce muscle strength, endurance, and tone of the patient. Gymnastics is an exercise aimed at the overall development of all muscle groups, special movements of the aching legs, for example, ideomotor exercises, joint movements that do not restrain the plaster bandage, muscle tension of the thigh, etc., and exercises for the healthy leg.

After removing the plaster bandage, exercise therapy is used to master the ability to move on crutches, strengthen the muscles of the leg, and increase the amplitude of motion. It is necessary to alternate special exercises with general development. Special bending of feet( plantar and dorsal), muscle tension of the lower leg and thigh, active movements of the hip and knee joint and toes of the foot are referred to as special ones. At the very beginning of the exercise, they are performed in a lightweight version( with the help of straps, an instructor, etc.).

The starting point for exercise therapy is the position where the patient lies on his back, on his side, sitting and on his stomach. You can not perform stretching exercises. Squats, swinging movements, etc. The patient can move on crutches within the territory of the hospital, it is possible to assign exercises in the water.

During postimimobilization, it is still not possible to produce an axial load on the limb that was damaged.

Below is an example of a complex of therapeutic physical exercises for postimimobilizatsionnogo period:

Initial position - lying on the back:

• Tension of the muscles of the hips for 9-10 seconds, 5-6 approaches.
• Alternating the leg to the side and return to the starting position, 7-9 times.
• A kind of "walking" on the bed, 11-15 times.
• Bending of feet, 7-9 times.
• Bending of the leg in the knee, the foot moves on the surface of the bed, and returns to the starting position, 7-9 times.
• Circular movements of the soles of the feet, 10-14 times.
• Grab your toes with small objects and hold these items for 10 seconds, 5-6 sets.

Initial position - lying on the abdomen:

• Retraction of the straightened leg back, return to the starting position, 5-6 times.
• Flexion of the leg with its subsequent extension in the knee joint, 7-9 times.
• Straighten the leg, pull it aside, return to its original position, 5-6 times.

Starting position - lying on the side:

• Retracting the straightened leg to the side to the limit, holding the position for 6-8 seconds, returning to the starting position.
• Extension and flexion of the leg in the knee joint with the help of the second leg, 5-6 times.

Starting position - sitting:

• Put the stops on the medicalball and roll back and forth.
• Rolling from heel to toe, 7-9 times. Extension and flexion of toes, 9-12 times.
• Flexion of the leg in the knee with the help of the second leg, 7-9 times.

In this period of treatment, doctors advise to increase the duration of walking with crutches( so as not to load the injured limb).

In the recovery period, therapeutic exercises are needed to restore the knee joint, training the muscles and the general tone of the operated limb. Exercises can be performed from sitting, lying, standing in the ward, pool or gym. The number of exercises can be the same, but the number of approaches for each grows, the pace of movements should remain calm and unhurried. It is useful to walk in the pool, with a reduced load on the foot. Gradually, the leg can be loaded only 3-5 months after injuring one condyle and after 5-6 if both were damaged. If you try to load them earlier, it can contribute to the appearance of deforming arthrosis. Massage of the damaged limb is assigned only after the completion of the consolidation process.