Rehabilitation of the knee

Rehabilitation of the knee following injury or operative reconstruction and repair is vitally important to realizing optimal results, return to athletics, labor, and activities of daily living. Outlined in detail is a regimen of continuous passive motion, protected early weight bearing, co-contraction (EMS) of hamstring and quadriceps muscles for conditioning and analgesia (TENS), and functional concentric--eccentric loading of the knee musculature. A rationale based on an understanding of biologic rates of healing, fixation strength, ligament isometricity, and stress-induced healing is discussed.