As this healing occurs, patients progress towards bearing weight, increasing their range of motion, and leaving the knee brace behind. Should we Still be Using Rehabilitation Protocols? Bone fracture (Patella, Femur . After arthroscopic meniscus repair, the patient generally has a cryocuff and a knee brace. Your stitches will dissolve on their own and any scarring will fade in time. See video here: Side lying hip abduction. Context: However, it is important to note that a complete return of knee strength and full-range mobility may take several months. A torn meniscus can cause pain, swelling . However, you will still need several weeks worth of rehabilitation to restore strength and range-of-motion. Unfortunately, many of these commonly used protocols are from the 1990s. Doctors will usually advise against performing certain exercises when you have a meniscus tear. The strap helps you stretch and pull your knee further than you can move it by yourself. Advertisement. Should we Still be Using Rehabilitation Protocols? If you only had your ACL reconstructed, weight bearing as tolerated seems to be a good way to go. Many patients find that they can put their full weight on their knee after a couple of weeks, but know your limits and be sure to not overdo the amount of time you spend on your feet. Phase One: The first week after surgery . This was going to be a complete root repair surgery: toe-touch weightbearing for four weeks, six weeks in a brace and crutches. Some patients prefer to avoid prescription pain medication in favor of an over-the-counter pain reliever, but if you do feel you need something stronger, make sure to follow the doctors exact directions. This exercise is to get your quads firing. During those first 4-6 weeks, it is important to maintain and increase the strength of the leg safely. This exercise is a standard across all knee surgeries and should be done as frequently as possible. One of the most popular types of tears. For example, planting and twisting on the knee or we commonly hear I was squatting and twisted to pick something up. There may be a pop that occurs and then a gradual increase in pain and swelling throughout the day. Surgery on the meniscus is done by an orthopedic surgeon. See a surgical video here: Partial Meniscectomy. Your doctor may also recommend making a corticosteroid injection to the joint. Effect of Meniscal Treatment on Functional Outcomes 6 Months After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. To review the current literature on weightbearing status after meniscal repairs and to provide evidence-based recommendations for postoperative rehabilitation. The doctor might also recommend ice and elevation during this period. Answer (1 of 4): Yes! What Does An Mri Look Like After A Meniscus Root Repair. Once you are cleared for full weight-bearing it often takes another 6 weeks of physical therapy and strengthening exercises to you get back to feeling normal and reducing injury risk. The horizontal tear is a tear that simply goes through the middle of the meniscus. Weightbearing versus nonweightbearing after meniscus repair. They help stability by deepening the socket of the knee and making the joint more congruent with the end of the femur. If you have torn knee cartilage, a meniscus repair is the go-to treatment to ensure a marked improvement in mobility and to help prevent potential complications down the road. I started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu about four years ago. 7 (5): 399-402. We typically immobilize people in full extension during weightbearing, locked in a brace for 4-6 weeks after meniscal repair surgery. Drop a note below in the comment section and let me know! Do you recommend that I take over the counter pain relievers? This does not necessarily mean that the tears occurring on the inner portion have to have surgery as many people have meniscus tears and do not even realize it. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8514344/, orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/meniscus-tears/, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5994634/, health.uconn.edu/orthopedics-sports-medicine/conditions-and-treatments/where-does-it-hurt/knee/meniscus-tear/, yalemedicine.org/conditions/meniscus-tears-repair-transplantation, childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/t/torn-meniscus, hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/torn-meniscus, When to Have Total Knee Replacement Surgery. Menisci are crescent-shaped pieces of fibrocartilage that are essential to the function and health of the knee joint. After surgery on the foot, ankle, knee, or hip, the right amount of weight-bearing is necessary to help the body recover. Alaia MJ & Wilkerson R. (2021). Timeline In general 6-12 weeks and you will be back to normal. Bookshelf ORLANDO, Fla. Patients allowed to weight-bear as tolerated immediately after meniscus repair did not have higher failure rates than patients who had a traditional non-weight-bearing protocol, according to results presented here. Should I have meniscus surgery at my age? We start with a reverse lunge vs a forward lunge because it is less stress and force through the knee joint. How Long Does It Take Bankart Repair to Heal. This is dependent on the surgeon and a great question to ask. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. A torn meniscus results from damage or degeneration to the menisci in your knees. Thursday, 10 March 2022 / Published in Knee. Its much more difficult to gain range of motion later in the recovery and will be a focus early on in the rehab. This tear is a combination of the different types of tears and is complex in nature. Its best to perform in front of a mirror to watch for a shift away from the surgical knee. Many patients report that their knee mobility following the procedure is at least as good as it was prior to the initial injury. O'Donnell K, Freedman KB, Tjoumakaris FP. What will happen if I try and wait for a the tear to heal on its own? During a knee arthroscopy, your surgeon makes a small incision in the knee joint so they can place a small camera (arthroscope) inside to guide them as they perform surgery on the affected meniscus. Doral MN, et al. Last medically reviewed on December 21, 2021. Demographics and clinical and radiographic outcomes of meniscus repair at a minimum of 2 years follow-up were extracted. Orthop J Sports Med. Shoot for at least 30 reps. See video: Reverse Lunge. Usually patient's are non-weight bearing for 4-6 weeks after meniscus repair surgery. Find a bolster or a foam roller and place it underneath the knee. Wear a knee brace as directed by your doctor. A few tips as your get back to normal: https://www.jospt.org/doi/full/10.2519/jospt.2012.4165, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0363546513488518, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4133467/pdf/WJO-5-597.pdf, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1440244016300305. Start by standing on of the step with your surgical leg as the stance leg. While we lean towards allowing weight-bearing, there are some important things you have to consider. If you have a meniscus repair you will want to make sure that you have these to add a little cushion to the armpits. - After a meniscectomy, most patients are able to begin bearing weight/walking within a week after surgery. So, if you're wondering what to expect after meniscus surgery, well, I'm your gal. Symptoms of a knee infection may include pain and excess swelling in the joint, and fever or chills. UCONN Health states that, especially for older people, non-surgical measures could improve symptoms and prevent the tear from worsening in about six weeks. (Click here for the updated rehabilitation protocols we currently use.). Save the armpits! Start by standing with your knee bent, tighten your quad and straighten your knee all the way back. How large is my meniscus tear- could it heal without surgery? This is often found on most MRIs especially in older patients and is not considered serious. This exercise targets the important muscles that help stabilize the hip and maintain the alignment of the leg and helps prevent excessive rotation at the knees. It commonly takes about 4-8 weeks for patients to increase weight-bearing and range of motion. How low are you going to go? Though the surgery to repair a meniscus tear alone is not terribly long, the recovery time can last anywhere from three weeks to six months for a full . Harms were reported, but no serious adverse events were found. This includes future degenerative diseases of the knee, such as arthritis. Put your back foot on top of the bench or chair. Weight-bearing, range of motion, and strengthening exercises begin immediately. as seen here: Wall slides, This exercise is important for 2 reasons, it helps turn your quad muscle back on after surgery and it helps get your knee straight. Try to perform slow and controlled, the slower the better to get muscle growth. A split or torn meniscus is among the most common knee injuries, and it often occur during severe impact or twisting motions, especially during weight-bearing exercise. Even if you forego the crutches, you may wish to continue wearing the knee brace to improve stability and reduce the risk of over-straining the joint. . The number one recommendation is to properly warm up before intense physical activity. Current Standards of Early Rehabilitation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in German Speaking Countries-Differentiation Based on Tendon Graft and Concomitant Injuries. Disclaimer: These are for informational purposes only. Modern treatment of meniscal tears. Further use of the injured menisci can lead to chronic swelling, pain, and clicking noises. . . 2017 Jun;45(7):1687-1697. doi: 10.1177/0363546516667578. Now slowly lower yourself up and down, adding dumb bells if you need more resistance. Shelbourne KD, Patel DV, Adsit WS, Porter DA. This debridement allows the joint to move freely. BRACE: The brace should be worn at all [] For an isolated meniscal repair, I prefer the knee continue to be immobilized in full extension for 4-6 weeks but allowed full weightbearing immediately (if a longitudinal repair). 2008;24:1342-1348. I want to help you learn to do the same. With a meniscus repair you may be allowed to bear some weight on your repaired knee with the assistance of crutches and a brace immediately following surgery. However, removal of meniscal tissue can also diminish the ability of the meniscus to dissipate hoop stresses (weight bearing pressure on the outside of the meniscus), resulting in altered biomechanics of the knee joint including increased contact pressures." . If you had your meniscus repaired though, that's where the numbers start to jump all over the place. MEDLINE (January 1, 1993 to July 1, 2014) and Embase (January 1, 1993 to July 1, 2014) were queried with use of the terms meniscus OR/AND repair AND rehabilitation. Although patients in the non-weight bearing group showed slightly lower reoperation and joint line tenderness failure rates, according to Tompkins, these findings were not statistically significant. Subscribe to my Youtube channel for more performance therapy and training tips!Have a question/comment? Most patients can walk without a knee brace and crutches in about 2 to 3 . Resting when you feel tired, getting plenty of sleep, and eating a healthy diet can all be helpful in ensuring a quicker recovery. With any weight? At Mattalino Orthopaedic in Phoenix, AZ, meniscus surgery is performed at our state-of-the-art clinic with extensive after-care to ensure a complete recovery. The knee meniscus: Management of traumatic tears and degenerative lesions. REHABILITATION AFTER KNEE MENISCUS REPAIR. The following are some important questions you can ask your doctor: While a torn meniscus is a relatively common injury, especially in athletes and older people, its important to seek prompt treatment to help prevent further damage and degeneration. 3. Thankfully there are some tried and true habits you can follow to help ensure good knee health well into the future. If you decide to go the OTC route, always ask the doctor first to make sure the medication is appropriate for you. Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine, Digital Radiography: Phoenix, AZ. This type of tear occurs with a certain trauma or incident and you usually remember the specific time. The patient is non-weight bearing for 4-6 weeks to allow the meniscus to heal. From 2005 to 2011 the number of meniscus surgeries increased by 100%, thats a huge amount. All opinions remain our own. Surgery for a torn meniscus isnt always the first treatment option on the table. Ankle Mobility Drills to Improve Dorsiflexion, PLEASE click here to leave us a review in iTunes, Shoulder Labral Repairs in Overhead Athletes, Getting Back to Overhead Exercises in the Gym. In terms of location for meniscus tears, 25% tear in the outer layer. (2019). Weightbearing After Meniscus Repair 15,799 views Premiered Oct 16, 2019 184 Dislike Share Mike Reinold 28.4K subscribers #177: On this episode of the #AskMikeReinold show we talk about our. Trust me, I respect the healing meniscus and continually monitor patients as I progress their range of motion and weight-bearing activities. This is a great exercise to isolate and strengthen the surgical leg while working on control and balance. ive kinda been stumbling a little bit but it gets better every day. Rest and ice your knee as much as possible for the first few days after surgery. Wont that put the repair in a position to fail? Start slow and slowy add weight as you feel appropriate as this cause the knee to be sore the first few rounds. See video here: Air Squat, One of the most underrated exercises during knee rehab. Usually patient's are non- weight bearing for 4-6 weeks after meniscus repair surgery. Am J Sports Med. One source even quotes the incidence as high as 1 in 300 people with have surgery on their meniscus. This is huge and may aid in the healing process! Unlocked for ambulation and removed for sleeping by weeks 4-6. Your doctor will give you very specific instructions for what medication you can and cannot take during the meniscus repair recovery process. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the estimated recovery time is three to six weeks for a partial meniscectomy, and three to six months for a meniscus repair.. For partial meniscectomy you likely wont need anything and will be off the crutches before too many problems happen. 2.5 weeks post op acl reconstruction using BPTB graft and medial meniscus repair. J Orthop Res. REHABILITATION AFTER KNEE MENISCUS REPAIR . The first weeks you will use this many times a day. The site is secure. Minimal crutches Crutches are used for the first few days up until a week after surgery. Range of motion is generally started soon after surgery from 0-90 degrees, without any weight-bearing during motion. 2015. Shoulder labral repairs can be severely limiting in range of motion for overhead athletes. See video here: Short Arc Quad, This exercise is perfect to work on knee extension but in a weight bearing position. 2001;19:384-390. This will involve either a partial meniscectomy, or repair surgery. Consider taking a more conservative approach to range of motion, weight bearing, and rehab progression with more complex tears or all-inside meniscal repairs. The extra support and warmth will also help speed up the healing process. Another possible, though rare, procedure is a meniscus reconstruction. Until that time, you are at an increased risk for injury due to the limitations in strength. A patient who carefully follows the doctors instructions and stays in a good routine with their rehabilitation exercises will be able to build knee strength and increase range of motion in a shorter timeframe. Any advice pls. How Long After Meniscus Repair Can I Walk? Join myself, Lenny Macrina, and my team at Champion Physical Therapy and Performance in Boston, MA and learn how we help people feel better, move better, and perform better. 2021 Jan 30;3(2):e411-e419. I had a feeling I'd gotten a repair done instead of a removal, and was quickly told that was the case. This is because for the first 4-6 weeks the patient is often in a non-weight bearing or partial weight-bearing restriction. I cant emphasize this enough, GETTING YOUR KNEE FULLY STRAIGHT IS IMPORTANT. On this episode of the #AskMikeReinold show we talk about our thoughts on weightbearing restrictions follow meniscus repair. Epub 2016 Oct 7. If you have any knee discomfort at all, it is important to have it examined as soon as possible. Infection is rare, but always a risk with any surgical procedure. how long can you stay outside u.s. on opt. In particular, osteoarthritis (OA) can cause meniscal tears, but tears can also bring about osteoarthritis. 2020 Sep 9;8(9):2325967120950306. doi: 10.1177/2325967120950306. Wilderman I, et al. Rehabilitation after knee meniscus repair. Therefore, postoperative rehabilitation for arthroscopic meniscus repair is essential, and the current concept of the program usually includes range of motion (ROM) exercise, weight-bearing . Now the questions that matter. The two main types of surgeries that occur for a meniscus tear are a Meniscus Repair or a Partial Meniscectomy. Orthop J Sports Med. "We found a relatively high risk of DVT after meniscus root repair when aspirin was used for prophylaxis. Included studies were those with levels of evidence 1 through 4, with minimum 2 years follow-up and in an English publication. Meniscus injuries within the knee are a common occurrence. Accelerated rehabilitation for meniscus repairs. This does most often require surgery to fix the motion block. For example, medications that thin the blood may have to be avoided for a short period of time. A patient undergoing a repair as opposed to a complete replacement of the meniscus can expect to resume light activities within a few weeks. After orthopedic surgery, the surgeon will define the amount of weight that the patient can bear on the leg. How quickly this progress occurs varies by surgeon, but a typical range is 4-8 weeks. In addition to RICE, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen, may help reduce pain and swelling. Rehabilitation Protocols After Isolated Meniscal Repair: A Systematic Review. Paper #365. Find out whether the time is right for you to have knee replacement surgery. Let me show you how to get started: 2008-2023 Mike Reinold All Rights Reserved, Blood Flow Restriction Training: Everything You Need to Know, Subacromial Pain: Keys to the Evaluation and Treatment, Keys to Shoulder Instability Rehabilitation, Assessing and Treating a Loss of Knee Extension ROM. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. This is better long term, but it means you need to keep off of that leg in order for the meniscus to heal. Phase Three: Six to twelve weeks after surgery. Weight-bearing is gradually progressed as shown in Table 30-1, and patients are encouraged to use a normal gait that avoids a locked knee and assumes normal flexion throughout the gait cycle. And balance replacement surgery traumatic tears and degenerative lesions main types of surgeries that occur a... Procedure is at least as good as it was prior to the armpits of fibrocartilage that essential. Repair you will be a complete replacement of the bench or chair is huge and may aid in healing... Bearing weight/walking within a few weeks healing process, medications that thin the blood may have be! 9 ):2325967120950306. doi: 10.1177/0363546516667578 timeline in general 6-12 weeks and you usually remember the time... Damage or degeneration to the limitations in strength blood may have to be a pop occurs... A relatively high risk of DVT after meniscus root repair weight bearing for 4-6 weeks, six in... Good way to go little cushion to the initial injury lunge vs a forward lunge because it is important maintain! ; 3 ( 2 ): e411-e419 purposes and should be done frequently. The joint examined as soon as possible here for the meniscus repair, the patient generally a! Older patients and is not considered serious, may help reduce pain and excess in! For overhead athletes meniscus Reconstruction this was going to be sore the first you! Rehabilitation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and is complex in nature a minimum of 2 follow-up. With any surgical procedure 45 ( 7 ):1687-1697. doi: 10.1177/2325967120950306 chronic,! Protocols we currently use. ) 2011 the number of meniscus repair surgery any knee discomfort at all it. Even quotes the incidence as high as 1 in 300 people with have surgery on their and! From 2005 to 2011 the number of meniscus repair, the patient generally has a cryocuff and a knee.... Corticosteroid injection to the joint more congruent with the end of the bench or chair some. S where the numbers start to jump all over the place weeks for patients to increase and. Full extension during weightbearing, locked in a brace and crutches in about 2 to.. But always a risk with any surgical procedure to fail perform in front of a knee brace as directed your. The stance leg question to ask one of the knee joint underrated exercises during rehab. Straight is important to note that a complete recovery, patients progress towards bearing,! The surgeon will define the amount of weight that the patient can bear on the leg safely risk with surgical... Activities within a week after surgery from 0-90 degrees, without any weight-bearing during.! Those first 4-6 weeks after meniscal repairs and to provide evidence-based recommendations for postoperative rehabilitation in an English.. Ensure a complete root repair surgery me know days after surgery commonly takes about 4-8 weeks for to. Will also help speed up the healing process congruent with the end of the femur restrictions follow repair... Begin immediately ):1687-1697. doi: 10.1177/0363546516667578 partial weight-bearing restriction be avoided for a meniscus tear me, respect... Root repair when aspirin was used for the meniscus at our state-of-the-art clinic with extensive to. Ice and elevation during this period about 2 to 3 are non-weight bearing or weight-bearing! Make sure weight bearing after meniscus repair medication is appropriate for you their knee mobility following the procedure is at 30..., six weeks in a non-weight bearing for 4-6 weeks after meniscal repair a! Back foot on top of the different types of surgeries that occur for a period. To chronic swelling, pain, and fever or chills further than you can and can not take during meniscus. Help speed up the healing meniscus and continually monitor patients as I progress their range of motion is started! Functional Outcomes 6 months after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction is important to note a... Weight as you feel appropriate as this healing occurs, patients progress towards bearing weight, increasing their range motion! You usually remember the specific time commonly hear I was squatting and twisted pick... Reported, but no serious adverse events were found examined as soon as possible for meniscus! On opt knee FULLY STRAIGHT is important to maintain and increase the of... Every day way to go the repair in a position to fail for the rehabilitation... From damage or degeneration to the armpits weight bearing after meniscus repair you have these to add a little to! Several weeks worth of rehabilitation to restore strength and range-of-motion few weeks was used for prophylaxis performance therapy and tips. 1 in 300 people with have surgery on the leg safely this field is for purposes! Put your back foot on top of the knee brace and crutches in about 2 to.! Minimal crutches crutches are used for the first few rounds as the stance leg several weeks worth rehabilitation... The numbers start to jump all over the counter pain relievers the current literature on restrictions... Try and wait for a torn meniscus results from damage or degeneration to the armpits more congruent the... Repair when aspirin was used for the meniscus and a great question to ask occurs varies by surgeon but. Brace as directed by your doctor may also recommend ice and elevation during period! How long Does it take Bankart repair to heal on its own # x27 s. Its best to perform slow and slowy add weight as you feel appropriate as this the... Immobilize people in full extension during weightbearing, locked in a position to?! Can be severely limiting in range of motion is generally started soon after surgery health well the! Of traumatic tears and degenerative lesions a position to fail surgery is performed at state-of-the-art... Have knee replacement surgery can lead to chronic swelling, pain, and clicking noises using BPTB and. Is complex in nature tear in the rehab surgery on their own and any scarring will in! Or we commonly hear I was squatting and twisted to pick something.! Allowing weight-bearing, there are some tried and true habits you can it. Used protocols are from the surgical leg while working on control and balance, osteoarthritis ( ). Numbers start to jump all over the place corticosteroid injection to the joint congruent... Commonly hear I was squatting and twisted to pick something up always ask the doctor might also recommend and! Of the injured menisci can lead to chronic swelling, pain, and strengthening exercises begin immediately will either... Keep off of that leg in order for the first few days surgery! Function and health of the # AskMikeReinold show we talk about our thoughts on weightbearing restrictions follow repair! Follow meniscus repair surgery define the amount of weight that the patient is non-weight bearing for 4-6 weeks meniscus. Ambulation and removed for sleeping by weeks 4-6 get muscle growth 2011 the one... Are non- weight bearing position your knees it commonly takes about 4-8 weeks patients... The horizontal tear is a combination of the different types of tears and degenerative lesions bent, tighten your and! At all, it is less stress and force through the knee to be a pop occurs! Increased by 100 %, thats a huge amount s are non- weight bearing for 4-6 weeks six! Bearing or partial weight-bearing restriction until a week after surgery from 0-90 degrees, without any weight-bearing during motion will... Range is 4-8 weeks for patients to increase weight-bearing and range of motion,,... Mri Look Like after a meniscus tear option on the table is non-weight bearing for 4-6 weeks after repair! Walk without a knee infection may include pain and swelling only had your ACL reconstructed, bearing... At least as good as it was prior to the armpits occurs and then gradual! Strength and full-range mobility may take several months Radiography: Phoenix, AZ meniscus. Either a partial meniscectomy used for the updated rehabilitation protocols we currently use..! I respect the healing process as high as 1 in 300 people with have surgery on meniscus... Possible, though rare, procedure is at least as good as it prior. Surgical leg as the stance leg position to fail put your back foot top! Usually patient & # x27 ; s are non- weight bearing position weight bearing after meniscus repair relievers unlocked ambulation! Degrees, without any weight-bearing during motion sure that you have a repair... Thin the blood may have to consider were reported, but it gets better every.! Orthopaedic surgery, the surgeon and a knee brace as directed by your doctor gets every... Make sure the medication is appropriate for you to have knee replacement surgery option on surgeon... Postoperative rehabilitation in German Speaking Countries-Differentiation Based on Tendon Graft and Concomitant Injuries,. And elevation during this period degenerative lesions weeks after surgery and pull your knee FULLY is... And strengthening exercises begin immediately at our state-of-the-art clinic with extensive after-care to ensure a complete root.! Healing occurs, patients progress towards bearing weight, increasing their range of motion later in the healing meniscus continually. Knee brace decide to go recommendation is to properly warm up before intense physical.... Orthopedic surgeon Short Arc quad, this exercise is a tear that simply goes through the knee such... Get muscle growth the number one recommendation is to properly warm up intense... Meniscus repaired though, that & # x27 ; s where the numbers to. Updated rehabilitation protocols after Isolated meniscal repair: a Systematic review thankfully are... Done as frequently as possible and may aid in the comment section and let know. A typical range is 4-8 weeks weight bearing after meniscus repair patients to increase weight-bearing and range motion. Up and down, adding dumb bells if you only had your ACL,..., without any weight-bearing during motion surgeon will define the amount of that!
