When Can I Bend my Knee After ACL Surgery?

Recovering from an ACL reconstruction surgery is a long and tedious process. It takes time for pain and swelling to subside and regain your leg’s muscle strength. Rehabilitation measures have evolved significantly over the past decades. The focus has shifted towards functional exercise, which is essential to maximize the results following ACL reconstruction surgery. The early phases of rehabilitation is crucial as it helps avoid any post-surgical complications.

Knee flexion (bending) is an important factor during your recovery post-ACL reconstruction surgery. The normal range for active bending of your knee is 135 degrees. Post your surgery, knee flexion (bending) is restored by stretching and functional exercises. After an ACL surgery, following your physical therapist’s and doctor’s instructions are important for a safe and effective rehabilitation. However, it may not be as easy as it sounds, as your knee will need time to regain its mobility. Following the rehabilitation measures diligently will help you regain your range of motion.

How to Bend Your Knee After ACL Surgery?

Restoring your knee flexion (bending) post-ACL surgery can be challenging. However, achieving full mobility early in the rehabilitation process is crucially important. 

You may need to take it slow during your rehabilitation process as too much, too early, can do more harm. Increased stress on your operated knee can lead to further inflammation and damage. Here are some points to remember as you progress toward recovery:

• Start with exercises prescribed by your physical therapist to regain strength in your quadriceps and hamstrings.
• Use crutches to take the weight off your knee and protect the surgical site.
• Gradually increase the amount of weight you put on your knee as instructed by your physical therapist.
• Use a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine, as prescribed by your surgeon, to help increase knee range of motion.
• Begin to do gentle knee bends, holding onto support if necessary.
• Gradually increase the depth of your knee bend and progress to full knee extension and flexion as tolerated.

When Can You Bend Your Knee After ACL Surgery?

After an ACL surgery, the recovery period can vary from person to person. It depends on factors such as the extent of damage to the ACL, age, overall health, and adherence to rehabilitation measures. Though you cannot expect a drastic change in mobility soon after the surgery, you can gradually regain the range of motion. Let’s understand how you can bend your knees after ACL surgery. 

The timelines:

• Week 1: About 90 degrees of bending is achieved by the first week
• Week 4 to 6: Full (130 to 140 degrees) knee bending is achieved in 4 to 6 weeks. There is a 6-week mark post-surgery when knee bending becomes easy. If the full functionality is not restored within six (6) weeks, it becomes difficult to repair or recondition the tissues of your knee.

Patellar (kneecap) mobility is essential for knee bending (flexion). After ACL surgery, the knee is painful, swollen, and difficult to move. Scar tissue forms which limit the mobility of the patella (bone present anterior to the knee joint). This is usually seen when a patellar tendon graft is used for ACL reconstruction surgery.

The lack of knee bending after an ACL reconstruction surgery may also be due to pain, swelling, and edema. Pooling of fluids around the surgical site may also limit knee bending. The joint capsule within the knee swells up like a balloon and gradually increases in size, making it harder to bend your knee. 

How to Improve Knee Bending (Flexion) After ACL Surgery?

The secret to improving your knee bending with little or no pain depends on various factors. If you are able to follow them, you will ultimately reach your goal to achieve the range of motion in less time with limited to no pain.

• Early mobilization
  • This is the most important factor which improves your knee bending.
  • This helps to control and manage post-operative swelling.
  • It also aids in tissue healing and repair thereby reducing postoperative complications.
  • Walk for 10 minutes before beginning your knee-bending exercise. Bend your knee while walking.
• Pain management
  • Mobilization will gradually reduce pain which in turn improves your knee joint flexibility.
  • Elevate your legs for 20 minutes and take your pain medicines at least 20 minutes before any knee exercise.
• Cryotherapy/ Ice
  • This reduces inflammation and edema (swelling due to fluid trapped in the body). Inflammation is the body’s natural response to fight against injury and infection. It is accompanied by redness, pain, warmth over the areas, and swelling of the area.
  • You can spply an ice pack around the area an hour before your knee-bending exercise.
• Compression
  • Compression sleeves or braces are wearable devices that are made of elastic or neoprene material that can be worn around the knee to provide compression and support.
  • Cryotherapy (cold therapy) with compression helps in reducing edema and inflammation. Wrapping your knee after icing will provide relief from swelling and pain
  • You can wear a compression sleeve (stocking) as instructed by your doctor for 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure.
• Effleurage
  • It is a basic massage technique that involves repeated circular stroking movements made with the palm of your hand.
  • Effleurage can help to soothe sore muscles, reduce tension, and promote relaxation. It is also an effective way to warm up the tissue before applying more specific techniques to address specific muscle groups or areas of tension.

What Exercise Helps Improve the Knee Bending (Flexion)?

After following the above steps, your knee is well prepared and conditioned for the ACL surgery rehabilitation exercises. The exercises mentioned should be approved by your orthopedic surgeon in Bangalore and physical therapist. 

• Heel slides
  • Lie on your back, and gently bring your heel toward your buttocks.
  • Hold your knee in place for 5 seconds and then straighten your leg.
  • Repeat 3 sets with 10 repetitions.

• Heel slides with assist
  • Lie on your back and use a strap to help you bend your knee.
  • Hold your knee for 5 seconds and straighten your leg.
  • Repeat 2 sets with 10 repetitions.

• Hamstring curls
  • Lie on your belly and gently bend your knee.
  • Inhale and hold for 5 seconds as you bring your knee close to your buttock, exhale on the way out. 
  • Repeat 2 sets with 10 repetitions.

• Quad stretch
  • Lie on your belly and hold your leg and bend it backward, touching your buttocks; put a foam roller just above your kneecap, bend it to a tolerable limit, and hold for 30 seconds.
  • There should be no knee pain, but a stretch should be felt in the quadriceps.

Takeaway

Gaining mobility is one of the most important goals of a rehabilitation program. Knee bending (flexion) takes longer than expected, but with proper dedication and effort, you can improve the range of motion of your operated knee. For any assistance with ACL surgery or rehabilitation, our team at Medfin, with highly qualified and skilled surgeons, are here to help you!!!

---

Disclaimer: 

The content on this site is the copyright of Medfin and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered as a substitute for medical and surgical expertise. Results from any treatments or surgeries are subjective to an individual patient and the type of procedure/ surgery performed. Please seek professional help regarding any medical concerns. Medfin will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.