Find out what are the periods during the recovery of the meniscus after a rupture and how physical therapy is performed for quick rehabilitation. The knee joint is highly susceptible to injury. One of the most common injuries is a meniscus tear. Moreover, it is not necessary to go in for sports, because any awkward movement can cause such an injury. The main task of therapy in the treatment of this type of injury is to remove damaged cartilage tissue, as well as suppress pain. During the rehabilitation period, restorative physical education after a ruptured knee meniscus is extremely important.
The value of the complex of remedial gymnastics for meniscus injury
Functional and then morphological changes in the knee joint occur not only at the time of the injury itself, but during prolonged immobilization of the limb during the period of therapy. When an injury has been received, swelling often appears on the skin, which can also be a consequence of a subsequent complication. In addition, when the meniscus ruptures, the interstitial pressure increases and the normal functioning of the nerve endings is disrupted.
Since myoreceptors are constantly irritated, the effect of hypertonicity of muscle tissues appears. Prolonged irritation of the receptors located on the tendons leads to a sharp suppression of motor function. Correctly conducted restorative physical education after a rupture of the menisci of the knee joint allows you to eliminate stagnant processes and contracture of the elements of the joint.
Note that additional difficulties for quick recovery are created by the forced immobilization of the injured limb. It should be remembered that the later restorative physical education is used after a ruptured knee meniscus, the greater the risk of complications. If a limb is immobilized for a week, then the muscles lose 20 percent of their capacity.
When the period of immobilization is about six weeks, the joint capsule becomes rigid and several times more effort has to be expended to perform a simple movement. In turn, after two months of immobilization, about 40 percent of the elasticity of the ligaments is lost, and the functional abilities of the cartilage tissue are also lost. All this suggests that restorative physical education after a ruptured knee meniscus should be prescribed in the first days of the rehabilitation stage.
Period of immobility after ruptured knee meniscus
Immediately after injury, the joint should be immobilized. This will prevent displacement of the damaged tissue, as well as create the most ideal conditions for cartilage fusion. Knee pads and orthoses are used to immobilize the knee joint.
How to suppress pain?
As we have already noted above, during the period of immobilization of the injured limb, the main task of the therapy is to suppress pain, as well as eliminate edema and inflammatory processes. To solve this problem, preparations of the corticosteroid group are excellent, as well as non-steroid drugs with anti-inflammatory properties. Cooling and analgesic ointments are used as additional agents.
Alternative methods are also excellent as pain relievers. You can safely use onion gruel, burdock, alcohol and honey compresses. If arthroscopy has been performed, then restorative exercise after a ruptured knee meniscus should be performed every second day. While the knee joint is immobilized, the following steps should be taken:
- General developmental exercises for all muscles of the body.
- Warm up healthy limbs.
- Isometric exercises for the muscles of the immobilized leg.
- Keep the limb in a lowered and raised position.
To enhance peripheral blood flow and eliminate stagnant processes in the immobilized joint, we recommend that you periodically lower your leg and then raise it. At this time, restorative physical education after a ruptured knee meniscus is necessary to prepare the muscles and the articular-ligamentous apparatus for the upcoming stress.
Rehabilitation period after a ruptured knee meniscus
All exercises included in the complex of restorative physical education after rupture of the knee joint menisci during the rehabilitation stage should be performed in a sparing mode, and the range of motion and the index of physical activity should be systematically increased.
The first exercises are aimed at increasing the range of motion. When about 40 percent of the motor capabilities of the knee joint are restored, exercises must be introduced into the complex to increase the strength indicators of the muscles. The complex of movements should be adjusted by the instructor depending on the characteristics of the patient's body and his age.
The training program should be designed taking into account the main goals of post-trauma rehabilitation:
- The return of a person to normal life.
- For amateur sports
- To continue your professional sports career.
Rehabilitation physical education after a ruptured knee meniscus must include:
- Exercises to improve coordination - will help restore muscle control to the injured limb.
- Increased flexibility - as a result, the knee joint will be able to fully extend.
- Increase in muscular endurance - special attention should be paid to the quadriceps and back muscles of the lower leg with the thigh. It is they who accelerate the process of restoring a person's supporting abilities.
- Strengthening and stretching - so that the joint can bend at right angles. It is necessary to carry out a massage.
- Formation of a normal and natural gait.
Exercises included in the complex of restorative physical education after a meniscus rupture
Now we will bring to your attention an approximate complex of restorative physical education after a ruptured knee meniscus.
Warm up
All exercises must be performed while lying down.
- The hands are locked and located on the head. As you inhale, raise your arms straight up and then return them to their starting position. You need to do three to four repetitions.
- Bend the ankle in the dorsal and plantar directions, and perform circular motions. The pace is average. You need to do 15 to 18 repetitions.
- The medicine ball must be tossed and caught. The number of repetitions is 15 to 18.
- Lift the injured and healthy limbs alternately. The exercise is performed in 12-14 repetitions.
The main stage
- Take a lying position, resting on the ground with your elbow joints, the back of the head and a good leg bent at the knee joint. Begin to slowly raise your pelvis as high as possible. Make sure that the injured leg remains on the ground, but bends at the knee. The number of repetitions is 4 to 7.
- Place your hands and a healthy knee on the ground. Start lifting the injured limb. The number of repetitions ranges from 6 to 9.
- From a position on all fours, slowly lower yourself onto your heels. The number of repetitions ranges from 6 to 9.
- Sit on a chair and grab with your toes and then roll various objects. The number of repetitions ranges from 14 to 16.
- Raise the medicine ball with your feet. The number of repetitions ranges from 6 to 9.
- Gather the towel in folds. The number of repetitions ranges from 5 to 7.
- Squat at a slow pace, resting your hands on the edge of the chair. The number of repetitions ranges from 5 to 7.
- Stand near a gymnastic ladder and hold the plank at chest level. Start rolling from heel to toes. The number of repetitions ranges from 13 to 17.
- Place the foot of the injured limb on a medicine ball and begin rolling it to the sides.
To control gait, you need to walk on crutches. At the final stage of the complex of restorative gymnastics, it is necessary to perform breathing and relaxing muscles of the movement.
Recovering from a ruptured knee meniscus
This stage should begin only after all the goals of the previous one have been achieved. Now, restorative physical education after a ruptured knee meniscus involves performing more complex movements that are as close to natural as possible. The patient should start working on simulators and perform static-dynamic movements. It is also advisable to include trampoline lessons in the complex.
The main objectives of this stage are:
- Further increase in endurance and muscle strength, which implies the introduction of more complex exercises into the complex.
- The knee joint should bend at an angle of 60 degrees.
- Increase the sensitivity of the knee joint with balance exercises.
- Further preparation of the muscles for normal functioning.
- Returning the muscles to their previous volume.
- Formation of the skill of correct landing during jumps.
During this period, we recommend performing the following exercises for different muscle groups.
Groin muscles
Sit in a chair with your knees bent. Start spreading them apart while bringing your heels together. When doing the exercise with your hands, you need to press on your legs.
Flexor muscles
- Take a supine position and press your foot against the wall. Begin to move it downward, bending the knee joint.
- The foot of the injured limb must be placed on a chair, while bending the knee joint at a right angle. Begin to do forward bends by bending your knee.
Extension muscles
- A weight must be attached to the ankle of the injured leg. Take a sitting position on the table so that your hips are on its surface, and your legs hang freely. Begin to bend / unbend the leg, maintaining a pause of ten seconds at the end points of the trajectory.
- Stand with your back to the wall and, bending your legs at the knee joints, slide down it. At the lowest point of the trajectory, hold a pause for ten counts.
- An elastic bandage must be fixed between the legs of the chair, and then sit on it. Begin to press on the bandage with your foot, while taking it back.
Once again, I would like to remind you that restorative physical education should be carried out in a timely manner. This is the only way the patient can recover in a short time. Until the knee joint is fully restored, the leg should not be soared or taken in hot baths.
For more information on how to exercise after a meniscus injury, see below:
