Knee Reconstruction

[Gillian]

Hi I'm new to this forum. My Name is Gillian I'm 21 from Australia. I work as a Body Combat and Body Jam Instructor and just had a quick question

I had a knee reconstruction about 1 month ago, basically what happened is that I was in car accident and both my ACL and PCL snapped and my knee cap was shattered, and they had to reconstruct, during my rehab, my trainer, has had me on the bike and the rower trying to allow movement back into my kneecap, but after the sessions I leave in a lot of pain and can barely move and yet my trainer seems to think this is okay.

Your opinions pls

Cheers!!!

[Keith Scott]

YOur biggest problem is your knee cap, IMO. You say you are one month post op? Did your doc clear your for PT? In other words, is your patella healed? I assume it is since you are doing PT work. That area will be the most painful.........
Its gonna take some time, and I would go at it slowly. Work ROM in a safe manner while using plenty of modalities (Heat, Ice, Stim, US).

ROM will be difficult and will take some time.
Strength should come in isometrics first, and more as ROM increases.
Work on balancing on that leg as much as you can (supported if need). That will go a long way.

Either way, the shattered patella is what will take the longest. The ACL/PCL grafts will heal and should be OK with the normal rehab.

[Bill Hartman]

Originally Posted by Gillian

Hi I'm new to this forum. My Name is Gillian I'm 21 from Australia. I work as a Body Combat and Body Jam Instructor and just had a quick question

I had a knee reconstruction about 1 month ago, basically what happened is that I was in car accident and both my ACL and PCL snapped and my knee cap was shattered, and they had to reconstruct, during my rehab, my trainer, has had me on the bike and the rower trying to allow movement back into my kneecap, but after the sessions I leave in a lot of pain and can barely move and yet my trainer seems to think this is okay.

Your opinions pls

Cheers!!!

How was the patella fixated?

Were both ligaments reconstructed?

What's your current range of motion at the knee (how much flexion and extension)?

What have you been cleared to do by your surgeon?

Have you seen a physio? Is your trainer an athletic trainer or personal fitness trainer?

Bill

[Gillian]

Originally Posted by Bill Hartman

How was the patella fixated?

Were both ligaments reconstructed?

What's your current range of motion at the knee (how much flexion and extension)?

What have you been cleared to do by your surgeon?

Have you seen a physio? Is your trainer an athletic trainer or personal fitness trainer?

Bill

The Patella had cracks through it, and I have metal rods all the way through from side to side and up and down. I had both ligaments resown and I can't really bend it at all (in both flexion and extension). I was told to do ROM exercises, but he didn't specifiy and left it to the trainer (which is my physio)

[Bill Hartman]

Wait, your trainer is a physio or you're seeing a trainer instead of a physio?

How long ago was your surgery to now?

You need to get the patella moving. Look on the net or ask you physio to show you how to mobilize the patella. Do it a lot?

Did they excise any of your patella?

Sound like you were immobilized for a long time if you're that stiff. This could be a problem.

First get off the bike. Sounds like a tremendous waste of time.

Look for explanations of heel slides and wall slides (not the kind that look like squats, rather the kind where you lay on your back and let your foot slide down the wall).

Work range of motion a minimum of 4 times a day.

That should get you started.

Bill

[Gillian]

Originally Posted by Bill Hartman

Wait, your trainer is a physio or you're seeing a trainer instead of a physio?

How long ago was your surgery to now?

You need to get the patella moving. Look on the net or ask you physio to show you how to mobilize the patella. Do it a lot?

Did they excise any of your patella?

Sound like you were immobilized for a long time if you're that stiff. This could be a problem.

First get off the bike. Sounds like a tremendous waste of time.

Look for explanations of heel slides and wall slides (not the kind that look like squats, rather the kind where you lay on your back and let your foot slide down the wall).

Work range of motion a minimum of 4 times a day.

That should get you started.

Bill

My surgery was done about 6 weeks ago. My trainer is physio. Thanks for the info Bill

I saw my physio and told him I wasn't happy with what I was happening and the pain that I was in, and he suggested that we try some different exercises which he is going to try next session