Knee rehabilitation - objectives
Submitted by admin on March 26, 2008 - 7:31pm.
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The objectives of knee rehabilitation are:
- to protect the joint in the early stages from further mechanical injury via the appropriate use of braces, crutches or sticks.
- to reduce internal swelling as soon as possible to allow full mobilisation
- to reduce inflammation, so that adhesions are not formed and that secondary destruction is not initiated by enzyme release from the inflamed tissues
- to identify infection early before it has a chance to spread
- to restore range of motion (ROM) to prevent later permanent limitation of flexion or extension
- to maintain muscle responsiveness and limit inhibition in the early phases and actual wasting in the later stages
- to free adhesions so that they do not organise into thicker scar tissue, which might lock up the joint
- to rebuild muscle strength to restore function and also to stabilise the joint and protect it from further injury
- to restore gait patterns to prevent strain in the back or hip or the other leg
- to restore proprioception or internal spatial awareness in the knee, to prevent damaging it again
- to build endurance to strengthen bones and the cardiovascular system (heart and lungs)
- to build nutritional awareness to optimise weight and correct dietary imbalances
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