Physical Therapy
It is common for ACL surgery to be scheduled three weeks or more after the occurrence of the ACL injury. The delay allows the inflammation in the knee to subside. Surgeons sometimes recommend that patients complete “prehab,” a form of preoperative physical therapy that focuses on restoring the knee’s full range of motion and strengthening the muscles around the knee, particularly the quadriceps. Typical prehab exercises include knee extensions, heel slides, straight leg raises, and quad sets. Prehab prescriptions vary by age, activity level, and the condition of the knee. While doing prehab, patients can further help prepare their mind and body for surgery by listening to the preoperative guided imagery recording on this CD-ROM.
Knee Extension
Straight Leg Raise
Heel Slide
Quad Set