ACL Graft stretch?!
Question:
ACL Graft stretch?
I had a acl reco done about a week ago with the patella tendon graft and since about day 3 post op, i have been actively bending the knee between 90 and more recently 110 degrees. Is this ok at such an early stage and is it possible to stretch out the graft by doing this? I'm a bit stressed now cos i don't want to overdo things and need another operation which i cant afford.
Answers:
Bending your knee like that is good to prevent scar tissue from building and preventing you from bending it in the future. 110 degrees is great in the first week or two, I would not push beyond that until 3 wks out when 120 is your goal. Also make sure you are focusing just as much attention on getting the knee straight. As far as stretching the graft, that happens when you walk a lot on your leg without a brace and your muscles are weak. As long as you are strengthening you quad since surgery then you will be fine.