Warning!Are You Making Any of These 3 Common Deadly Knee Treatment Mistakes?
"How to Get Rid of Your Knee Pain Once and For All - The Right Way!
Knee Surgery Ends Most Professional Athletes Careers
By Dr. Paul Anderson M.D. Sports and Pain Medicine Expert
MSNBC reported on a study that showed knee surgery ends 2/3 of NFL Players Careers. One of the reasons these players fail to ever play again at the pro level, maybe be returning to the field too early before proper knee rehabilitation is completed.
On the advice of her medical team, former #1 female tennis player Venus Williams in her come-back from a recent knee injury, held off returning to the tennis court until she was completely knee pain free reported on the baseline.com.
Poor knee rehabilitation is a common problem in all levels of athletics from amateurs and week end warriors to pro athletes. Let's discuss proper knee rehabilitation with a qualified physical therapist following knee injury or surgery.
Knee Rehabilitation Rule #1 - Return to activities and sports only when 100% pain free. The most important factor in returning to your pre-injury function is to be 100% knee pain free.
Attempting to return while in pain is detrimental and actually slows down your recovery because proper muscle contraction prevented by pain. You simply will be unable to effectively contract your quadriceps and hamstrings risking further knee injury.
Knee Rehabilitation Rule #2 - Return to activities and sports only when knee range of motion (ROM) is at least 100% or as close as possible. Stretching and improve the your range of motion in both knee flexion and extension of with appropriate exercises.
Knee Rehabilitation Rule #3 - Return to activities and sports only when knee strength is at least 80% or more Strengthen your knee with appropriate exercises and loads until your strengthen in all knee muscles are more than 80 % of pre-injury levels or the other knee.
Knee Rehabilitation Rule #4 - Neuromuscular Training After a knee injury, your joint goes into protect mode. Your knee muscles no longer fire in the correct pattern but instead fires in a protective one. This protective pattern helps splint your knee for recovery but does not reverse by itself. Your knee therapy must involve neuromuscular re-training back to the correct knee muscle firing pattern or you'll be at risk for re injury.
Knee Rehabilitation Rule #4 - Proprioception Training After a knee injury, your joint may lose it's orientation in space called proprioception. Your physical therapist should check for this and provide special proprioception knee exercises if needed.
Knee Rehabilitation Rule #5 - Knee Brace If you had a knee sprain or surgery for ligament reconstruction you'll need an proper protective knee brace for 12 months while the ligament heals back to full strength. It takes 12 months for the knee ligament fibers to strengthen properly.
Please always get your knee examined, diagnosed and treated by qualified medical professional.
