WOUND CARE
- Maintain your operative dressing, loosen the bandage if swelling of the foot and ankle occurs.
- It is normal for the kneed to bleed and swell following surgery. If blood soaks onto the ACE bandage, do not become alarmed, reinforce with additional dressing.
- To avoid infection, keep surgical incisions clean and dry for the first 7 days following surgery – you may shower by placing a large plastic bag over your brace beginning the day after surgery. NO immersion of the operative leg
(i.e.: bath or pool)
- Wait until your first post-operative appointment to have Dr. Mead’s team remove the surgical dressing.
- Please do not place any ointments, lotions, or creams directly on the incisions.
- Once the sutures are removed at least 7-10 days post operatively you can begin to get the incision wet in the shower (let water and soap lightly run over the incision and pat dry). NO immersion in a bath until given approval by our office.
ICE THERAPY
- Icing is very important in the initial post operative period and should begin immediately after surgery.
- Use an icing machine continuously or ice packs (if machine not prescribed) for 30-45 minutes every 2 hours daily until your first post-operative visit – remember to keep your leg elevated to the level of your chest while icing. Care should be taken with icing to avoid frostbite to the skin.
- You do not need to wake up in the middle of the night to change over the ice machine or ice packs unless you are uncomfortable.
PROBLEMS / QUESTIONS
If you have any problems or questions about your post op care, please do not hesitate to call our office at
504-309-6500. Let the operators know you just had surgery by your doctor and ask to speak with a medical assistant. If you should need to call after hours, the answering service will get your information and have the on-call physician return your call. If the matter is urgent, proceed to the emergency room.
Weeks 0 – 4 (Acute)
Range of Motion
- Weeks 0 -1
- Flexion 0 to 30 degrees
- Weeks 1 – 2
- Flexion 0 to 60 degrees
- Weeks 2 – 4
- Flexion 0 to 90 degrees
Weightbearing
- Weeks 0 – 2
- Toe-touch weightbearing
- 2+ Weeks
- Weightbearing as tolerated
Brace
- Weeks 0 – 2
- Braced locked at 0 degrees until 10 straight leg raises
- Weeks 2 – 4
- Brace 0 to 60 degrees
- 4+ Weeks
- Open and discontinue once gait is normal
Weeks 6 – 12 Phase 2 (Strength)
Range of Motion
- Progress to full flexion
Strengthening
- Leg press, step ups, step downs, wall sits
- Squat progression: bodyweight squats
- Advance hip abduction & glut strength
- Core exercises
- Balance training
Conditioning
- Stationary bike: interval training
- 6+ Weeks — Elliptical & rowing machine
- Initiate dynamic warm-up
Weeks 12 – 24 Phase 3 (Agility/Plyometrics)
Conditioning
- Dynamic warm-up & integrate sport specific warm up
- Biking, elliptical, jogging, swimming, & rowing
- Treadmill walk/jog progressions
Plyometrics
- Ladder drills, footwork agility drills, cone drills
- Double leg plyos
- High intensity predictable patterned movements, incorporate sport specific drills
Weeks 24 – 28 (Phase 4)
Strengthening
- Gym strengthening squats, deadlifts, Olympic lifting
- Interval strength circuits
- Dynamic eccentric loading: double & single leg
- Dynamic core
- Isokinetic training protocols
Conditioning
- Dynamic warm-up
- Biking, elliptical, jogging, swimming & rowing
- Advance to linear speed drills and sprinting drills
Plyometrics
- Tuck jumps, squat jumps, bounding, SL hop, SL triple hop, SL cross over hop
- Change of direction drills
- Non-contact sports specific drills
Weeks 28 – 36 (Return to Play)
Strengthening
- Gym strengthening squats, deadlifts, and Olympic lifting
- Interval strength circuits & work/rest timed intervals
- Complex movement patterns
- Isokinetic protocols: 300°, 180°, and 60°/sec
Conditioning
- Jogging, biking, swimming, rowing, & interval sprint workouts
Plyometrics
- Max effort DL and SL jumps
- Lateral & rotational agility drills
- Return to practice 🡪 return to contact practice 🡪 return to scrimmage 🡪 return to interval play 🡪 return to full play
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