Passive extension

• OBJECTIVES
• IMMEDIATE PHASE
• EARLY PHASE - IN BED
• EARLY PHASE - MOBILE
• INTERMEDIATE PHASE
• LATE PHASE

• GLOSSARY OF EXERCISES

• assisted flexion
• assisted passive extensions
• calf stretch
• carioca exercise
• CPM - continuous passive motion
• cross trainer
• crunch
• crutches
• cryotherapy (including icing)
• figure-of-eight
• foot pumps
• full arc extensions
• full quads stretch
• full squats (supported)
• hamstrings exercises
• hamstrings stretch
• heel slides
• heel slides (facilitated)
• hip extensions
• hip flexions
• hip flexion & adduction
• hip adduction
• hip abduction
• hip external rotation
• hip external rotation & abduction
• hopping
• ilio-tibial band stretch
• leg curls
• lunges
• lying wall slides
• lying wall slides (facilitated)
• mini squats
• mini stork
• mini trampoline
• one legged balance
• passive extension
• patellar mobilisations
• piriformis stretch
• plyometrics
• PRICE and RICE
• quad sets
• resisted extensions
• rowing machine
• short arc extensions
• side-stepping
• standing wall slides
• static bike
• static quads
• step-ups
• straight leg raises
• tip toes
• treadmill
• trunk extension
• wobble board

Passive extension ensures that the knee retains full extension (straightening).

While lying in bed in the early stages of injury or post-surgery, avoid putting a pillow under your knee. It may be more comfortable, but can lead to a flexion deformity (knee fixed in bent position).

But it is a good extension exercise to periodically put a pillow under your ankles. The weight of the leg will force the knee straighter (into extension - passive extension).

If you can persuade someone to go to a plumbing store and buy you a couple of short lengths of PVC pipe this will be more useful for doing passive extensions once you are up and about as you can increase the height and be sure of exactly how much stress is being put on the knee. Pillows can be rather variable.