Patella Stabilisation

Patella Stabilisation Surgery 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 the 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 an aquatic physiotherapy program designed for you by your physiotherapist. At 2-4 weeks (as long as wound healing has 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 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

Stage 1 (0-2 weeks):

Goals:

1. Control Swelling

   a. REST

   b. ICE – 15 to 20 minutes, 4 times per day

   c. COMPRESSION – Wear tubigrip during the day

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

2. Mobility

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

3. Exercises

   a. Achieve full passive extension (straighten out flat)

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

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

4. Exercises Frequency: 3-4 times per day, pain medication prior.
   All exercises are to be done within your pain limitations

Weeks 0 – 1 - Exercises:

a. Ankle Mobility

Sitting or Lying:

1. Move the ankle up, down and in circles
2. Repeat 10 times, every hour

b. Knee Flexion

Sitting or Lying:

1. Gently bend your knee by sliding your heel towards your bottom as far as comfortable
2. Slowly straighten out
3. Repeat 10 times

c. Towel knee extension

Sitting:

1. Roll up the towel and place it under the knee.
2. Squeeze the inner quads muscle and straighten the knee, then slowly lower.
3. Repeat ____ times per set.
4. Do ____ sets per session.
5. Do ____ sessions per day.

d. Hamstrings stretch

Lying:

1. With hands behind the knee, pull the knee towards the chest until a comfortable stretch is felt in the hamstring.
2. Hold ____ seconds.
3. Repeat ____ times per set.
4. Do ____ sets per session.
5. Do ____ sessions per day.

e. Weeks 1 – 2 - Exercises:

(Continue Weeks 0 – 1 Exercises as well)Standing VMO activation Standing:

1. In the step standing position, squeeze VMO then transfer weight onto the front leg.
2. Repeat ____ times per set.
3. Do ____ sets per session.
4. Do ____ sessions per day.

f. Wall Squats

Standing:

1. With feet shoulder-width apart and knees in line with toes move into ½ squat and hold.
2. Hold ____ seconds.
3. Repeat ____ times per set.
4. Do ____ sets per session.
5. Do ____ sessions per day.

g. Foam Roller

Side-lying:

1. Lying on top of a foam roller
2. Rolling out the tight musculature along the outside thigh between the hip & knee.
3. Rolling out the tight musculature along the outside thigh between the hip & knee.
4. Slowly up and back 20 times
5. *** You can change the angle of the body to target different tight areas of the muscle.

h. Stationary Cycling

1. Start with 5 minutes on NO RESISTANCE and progress time as your pain allows.
2. Ice your knee before and after each cycling session

i. Standing balance

1. Aim to keep both your ankle and knee as still as possible.
2. Aim for 30s and then progress through eyes open, shut and pillow once this is achieved.
3. Aim for 10 minutes a day of balancing