Postoperative Rehabilitation Concepts

Rehabilitation after knee injury or surgery can provide challenges to patients and medical teams alike. A criteria-based progression through the acute, endurance, strength, power and return to sport phases is established to guide the process. This model of linear periodisation provides graduated increases in intensity of loading to allow for joint adaptation while addressing physiological deficits. Criteria at the end of each phase serve as markers for the patient and clinician to measure progress. Return-to-sport testing criteria are the final measures and include assessment of strength, power, neuromuscular control and psychological readiness for resuming athletic activity. Through this process of rehabilitation and testing, performance may be optimised and reinjury risk may be reduced.