Physical therapy is necessary for most knee arthroscopy patients and all ACL reconstruction patients. We feel that physical therapy aids in the rapid return of normal motion and strengthening, and improves the postoperative recovery.

We recommend that most patients use either crutches, a walker or a cane for a day or two following their knee arthroscopy, as their pain dictates. Unless you have been specifically instructed otherwise, it is safe for you to put as much weight as you are comfortable doing onto your leg following knee arthroscopy, and we suggest using the crutches only as long as you need to from a pain standpoint. Following ACL reconstruction, we recommend using crutches until the quadriceps muscle strength recovers sufficiently to allow full weight bearing. Your physical therapist will guide you in this transition, but generally this occurs within the first 1 to 2 weeks.

We prefer that incisions stay dry until the sutures or staples are removed, however, you may shower the day after surgery, as long as you cover the incisions well to keep them from getting wet.

We prefer that the bandage stay on 24 hours following surgery, as it is a sterile dressing applied in the Operating Room. The exception would be if there is a large amount of drainage or bleeding into the bandage, then it certainly may be changed. Some blood visible on the bandage is normal in most cases and we prefer that the surgical bandage in the first 24 hours be reinforced by placing another bandage on top of the surgical bandage, without removing it, if possible.

Icing and elevation are most critical in the first 72 hours following knee arthroscopy or ACL reconstruction. In general, you should not apply the ice directly to the skin, but have a towel or blanket between the skin and the ice bag, and apply it for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Icing 3 to 4 times per day is usually sufficient. Elevation is also quite important in reducing swelling and the amount of swelling present should be used as a guide as to how much elevation should be performed. It is important, however, to take note of the level of your heart, as you will get no benefit from elevation if your knee is not above your heart. This generally involves lying down on a bed or couch and elevating the legs up on pillows.

A prescription for pain medicine will be given to you, prior to the date of your surgery so you can get it filled and have it available at home. It is likely that you will need additional pain medicine once that prescription is finished, and we will refill that on a case by case basis.

It is important for patients to resume walking, full weight bearing, as soon as possible following surgery. We believe in early return to normal function. Physical therapy will be very helpful in progressing in the postoperative period. The time from surgery to walking normally without pain varies from patient to patient, depending on the procedure involved.

The length of time off of work following knee arthroscopy or ACL reconstruction depends greatly on the type of work to which you need to return. If you are returning to a sedentary type of position, where you are able to sit and even elevate your leg if necessary, it may be possible to return in the first week following surgery. For physically demanding positions or jobs which involve a great deal of stair climbing, it may be 6 to 12 weeks before you are able to return to that type of work following knee arthroscopy or ACL reconstruction.

Most patients do not need any type of knee brace following knee arthroscopy. Some of our patients following ACL reconstruction do have a brace to return to sports and we will discuss that issue in the office. In the initial postoperative period however, a knee brace is not used.