Patella Stabilisation Rehabilitation

FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES TIMELINE

Please be aware that this timeline is a guide only. Everybody’s rate of healing differs and you may progress faster or slower than indicated.

0-2 weeks:

Weight bearing as tolerated. Begin walking with use of the crutches, easing off them as your pain allows.

Stationary bike riding as soon as able with no resistance. Begin doing only 10 minutes at a time, increasing time to 20 minutes. Ice your knee before and after.


See your physiotherapist at 1-2 weeks after your surgery.

2-6 weeks:

Keep up with your rehab program as indicated by your physiotherapist.

Gently increase the resistance on the stationary bike as your pain allows.

Begin aquatic physiotherapy program designed for you by your physiotherapist. At 2-4 weeks (as long as wound healing have been achieved) begin swimming, use a pool buoy in between your legs and do not kick. This will begin to improve your cardiovascular fitness and upper body strength.

6 weeks:

Commence jogging in straight lines on the flat at 6 weeks. Start with a walk/jog program each a day. Increase very gradually if no increase in pain or swelling. Commence riding on the road at 6 weeks.

8 - 12 weeks

Strength and agility exercises will progress

Progressively commence sport specific activities guided by your physiotherapist. Return to training and participating in skill exercises. Low impact step aerobics classes can be commenced as indicated by your physiotherapist.

12 weeks (3 months):

Follow your physiotherapist’s guidelines for return to sport modifications.

Patella Stabilisation Surgery

Goals:

  1. Control Swelling

    • REST

    • ICE – 15 to 20 minutes, 4 times per day

    • COMPRESSION – Wear tubigrip during the day

    • ELEVATE – rest as frequently as you can with your leg up on a bed/couch

  2. Mobility

    • Achieve correct gait, FWB. If pain allows without crutches

  3. Exercises

    • Achieve full passive extension (straighten out flat)

    • Achieve full flexion (bending of the knee) – may be limited by swelling

    • Active strengthening begins with gentle contractions of quadriceps, and progresses to weight bearing contractions by day 7.

    Exercises Frequency:

    3-4 times per day, ?pain medication prior.
    All exercises are to be done within you pain limitations

  4. Weeks 0 – 1 - Exercises:

    1. Ankle Mobility
      Sitting or Lying:

      • Move ankle up, down and in circles

      • Repeat 10 times, every hour

    2. Knee Flexion
      Sitting or Lying:

      • Gently bend your knee by sliding your heel towards your bottom as far as comfortable

      • Slowly straighten out

      • Repeat 10 times

    3. Towel knee extension
      Sitting:

      • Roll up towel and place under knee.

      • Squeeze inner quads muscle and straighten knee, then slowly lower.

      • Repeat 8 times per set.

      • Do 3 sets per session.

      • Do 3 sessions per day.

    4. Hamstrings stretch
      Lying:

      • With hands behind knee, pull knee towards chest until a comfortable stretch is felt in hamstring.

      • Hold seconds.

      • Repeat 4 times per set.

      • Do 3 sets per session.

      • Do 3 sessions per day.

    5. Weeks 1 – 2 - Exercises:

      (Continue Weeks 0 – 1 Exercises as well)

    6. Standing VMO activation
      Standing:

      • In step standing position, squeeze VMO then transfer weight onto front leg.

      • Repeat 4 times per set.

      • Do 3 sets per session.

      • Do 3 sessions per day.

    7. Wall Squats
      Standing:

      • With feet shoulder width apart and knees in line with toes move into ½ squat and hold.

      • Hold 15 seconds.

      • Repeat 3 times per set.

      • Do 1 sets per session.

      • Do 3 sessions per day.

    8. Foam Roller
      Side lying:

      • Laying on top of foam roller

      • Rolling out the tight musculature along the outside thigh between the hip & knee.

      • Rolling out the tight musculature along the outside thigh between the hip & knee.

      • Slowly up and back 20 times

      • *** You can change the angle of the body to target different tight areas of the muscle.

    9. Stationary Cycling

      • Start with 5 minutes on NO RESITSENCE and progressing time as your pain allows.

      • Ice your knee before and after each cycling session

    10. Standing balance

      • Aim to keep both your ankle and knee as still as possibly.

      • Aim for 30s and then progress through eyes open, shut and pillow once this is achieved.

      • Aim for 10 minutes