Knee Articles

Introduction An athlete returning to sport after an ACL reconstruction surgery (ACLR) is one of the most challenging decisions a sports medicine team has to make. What makes it even harder is there is not yet any universal return-to-sport criteria for resuming athletic activity following ACLR. No athlete after an ACLR has the same recovery.…

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions (ACLR) are among the most common sports medicine procedure performed in the United States. It is estimated that over 200,000 ACL injuries occur each year, with at least half electing to undergo surgical intervention. While we know the number of ACLRs has continued to climb, even the most recent data may…

What does ACL surgery and recovery involve? ACL surgery is the replacement of a torn anterior cruciate ligament of the knee with a graft or new “ligament”. It is performed arthroscopically using the patella, hamstring, or quadriceps tendon of the patient or from a donor tendon. It is typically an outpatient procedure, meaning that you…

A torn meniscus is a very common knee injury and is one of the top reasons to see an orthopedic surgeon. This type of injury can put a serious cramp in your sports training and game schedule. Plus, it might be leaving you with a lot of pain, loss of function, anxiety and questions about…

To go under the knife or to not go under the knife? That is one of the most common questions I get asked on a daily basis. Of course, no one wants to make the wrong choice! And like most of my answers I give as a physical therapist – it depends. Maddening, I know,…

If you are facing surgery for a torn meniscus in your knee, you probably have a lot of questions. Top on the list for you and your employer is likely, “how can you return to work faster after meniscus surgery?” Surgery for a torn meniscus in your knee will be either a meniscectomy or meniscus…

If you are more than 6 months into healing from an ACL surgery and are still frustrated by ongoing swelling, limited mobility, and pain, you are not alone. Most recoveries from an ACL surgery go well beyond the 6-8 month mark, but it’s important to understand why this is and how you can help facilitate…

When you think of a knee injury, particularly a meniscus tear, your mind might jump immediately to surgery. However, growing research consistently shows that surgery specifically for the meniscus has no long term benefits or superiority to conservative treatment options.1 When it comes to conservative treatment, physical therapy is one of the top options. A…

Over 510,000 meniscectomies were performed in the United States in 2014. If you’re thinking that sounds like a lot, you’re right! Especially since this type of surgery can lead to complications later in life. But oftentimes we can heal a torn meniscus naturally without surgery and still alleviate our pain while regaining our mobility and…

Six months ago you had an ACL reconstruction. After surgery, you were walking around with a knee brace and crutches. Several weeks later, you started physical therapy. It hurt to bend and straighten your knee for months and you probably wanted to skip your physical therapy appointments to avoid the pain. But, you pushed through…