When we’re young and don’t know any better we proudly wear our aches and pains on our sleeve like some silly badge of honor. Little do we know what we’re dealing with when we really get hurt! So it is with knee surgery. There is nothing courageous or manly about tearing up your knees. Knee surgery has prematurely ended some stellar athletic careers and stopped others from even starting.

Easy as 1-2-3?

Fortunately, arthroscopic medial meniscus surgery makes knee rehab more accessible than ever. MMS is one of the most frequently performed orthopedic procedures today. If the procedure was available decades ago who knows how some athletes may have prolonged their careers. “The medial meniscus is the one most commonly torn,” according to MedicineNet.com. If the tear is small the doctor can simply remove the torn part and smooth down the edges of the meniscus. At that point it’s just  matter of waiting for the wounds to heal and the swelling to subside — then you’re off and running. 

Quick Turnaround

Healing takes about three weeks and it might be a good idea to visit your chiropractor during that time. Chiropractic rehab can’t work miracles but proper therapy can get your central nervous system working properly and bring you to optimum health (apart from the knee injury). With the right attention and guidance from your chiropractor you‘ll be surprised how quickly you can return to the track for light jogging. It’s no stretch to say that after six weeks the knee is ready for structured interval workouts and an intensive running schedule.

No Kneeling

While you wait for the doctor’s OK, the best strategy is to avoid kneeling or squatting. It may take a few days to get that flexibility back in the knee but the turnaround time is so brief you shouldn’t worry about muscle loss. A good rule-of-thumb is to alternate your training with swimming or biking at the outset of your rehab. After three weeks of running on alternate days, your knee should be conditioned well enough for you to resume your normal training program. By 12 weeks, you should be able to run over any surface, including stairs and hills.

Don’t forget the benefits of ice. If your knee begins to swell after you run, just put ice on the knee (on top or underneath). A low dosage anti-inflammatory will help and you can also throttle back on your running if necessary. Use common sense: If you rehab sensibly and gradually after knee surgery, you should be able to run just as fast and as far as you did before you got hurt. 

And don’t forget: The Joint provides easy access to chiro care with its no-appointment, no-insurance policy and personalized care.

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May 1, 2015 by osseous is licensed under CC BY 4.0