How to Rehab Your Knee After ACL Surgery

Intermediate 5 min 21 steps 12043 views Rating: 4.5/5 Published: 2026-04-11

Use a knee brace to stabilize your knee following surgery.. Keep your knee elevated to avoid swelling.. Take medication to relieve any pain.

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Steps

1

Use a knee brace to stabilize your knee following surgery.

Step 1

Use a knee brace to stabilize your knee following surgery.

2

Keep your knee elevated to avoid swelling.

Step 2

Keep your knee elevated to avoid swelling.

3

Take medication to relieve any pain.

Step 3

Take medication to relieve any pain.

4

Place ice packs on your knee to bring down any swelling.

Step 4

Place ice packs on your knee to bring down any swelling.

5

Avoid placing pillows beneath your knee, as this will prevent your knee from str

Step 5

Avoid placing pillows beneath your knee, as this will prevent your knee from straightening.

6

Do leg straightening exercises.

Step 6

Do leg straightening exercises.

7

Do heel slides to practice the bending motion.

Step 7

Do heel slides to practice the bending motion.

8

Use wall slides to train the knee to bear your weight.

Step 8

Use wall slides to train the knee to bear your weight.

9

Try pillow squats to stabilize the knee joint.

Step 9

Try pillow squats to stabilize the knee joint.

10

Experiment with pool workouts to strengthen the knee.

Step 10

Experiment with pool workouts to strengthen the knee.

11

Consider ultrasound therapy to promote healing.

Step 11

Consider ultrasound therapy to promote healing.

12

Perform balance exercises to improve coordination.

Step 12

Perform balance exercises to improve coordination.

13

Do loop-band squats to strengthen the knee's muscles, ligaments and tendons.

Step 13

Do loop-band squats to strengthen the knee's muscles, ligaments and tendons.

14

Try forward lunges to prepare the knees for more high-impact activities.

Step 14

Try forward lunges to prepare the knees for more high-impact activities.

15

Do plank exercises to trim the core and take pressure off the knees.

Step 15

Do plank exercises to trim the core and take pressure off the knees.

16

Practice dumbbell rows to train the back muscles and core.

Step 16

Practice dumbbell rows to train the back muscles and core.

17

Perform stationary biking to increase blood flow.

Step 17

Perform stationary biking to increase blood flow.

18

Continue to perform all of the exercises listed above.

Step 18

Continue to perform all of the exercises listed above.

19

Do loop band side steps to increase lateral movement.

Step 19

Do loop band side steps to increase lateral movement.

20

From week 9, do squats to strengthen the knees.

Step 20

From week 9, do squats to strengthen the knees.

21

From week 13, practice jogging on a treadmill.

Step 21

From week 13, practice jogging on a treadmill.

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