Full knee extension is essential for normal knee function. While a certain loss of flexion is well tolerated, losing just a few degrees of extension creates an imbalance in gait with a limp when walking and can even rebound, generating pain at the hip and lumbar level. The knee is more able to tolerate inflammation at about 20 degrees of flexion. So the usual tendency is that people after an operation tend to put the knee slightly bent. That is why after surgery, you must work intensively to recover full extension. This work should be done with high intensity in the first 8 weeks. After the first 2 or 3 months, the ability to restore more extension deficit decreases considerably. While after this time a flexion deficit can be recovered relatively easily with a simple operation releasing knee scars, the surgical treatment of extension loss is much more complex to be corrected.
Below you can see an illustrative video of several recommended exercises to recover the full extension. In all cases, you should consider the following:
Be consistent and patient. Don’t pretend to get everything back in 1 day.
It is necessary that the pressure on the knee is carried out constantly, not by intermittent pressures or jerks.
The most effective exercise is placing an object under the ankle such as a rolled towel, and another person applying pressure on the knee for about 10-15 minutes constantly, without resting at any time so that the adhesions do not return to their initial position.
Apply ice for 10 minutes at the end of the session, or even during it.
Repeat 2-4 times a day, as needed.
Never put anything under your knee while resting, even in the most pleasant position.