Rehabilitation after meniscus injury is mainly based on the acute, subacute and chronic phases of the corresponding rehabilitation treatment.
1. Acute phase of meniscus injury (within 24 hours of injury): apply “PRICE” routine (protect, rest, ice, compression, elevation), i.e., protection, local rest, ice, compression bandage and elevation of the affected limb.
As soon as possible after the injury, elastic bandage pressure bandage, and then ice for 30 minutes, can relieve pain and prevent swelling.
2. Subacute phase of meniscus injury (1~4 weeks after the injury): Slowly perform knee bending and straightening exercises at a painless angle, with flexion not exceeding 90°. Perform strength training for the anterior and posterior thigh muscles, gluteal muscles and calf muscles, first perform static training, then dynamic training. Avoid deep squatting exercises, going up and down stairs, bouncing exercises, body rotation and change of direction and other sports.
3. Chronic meniscus injury (4 weeks after the injury): carry out full-range bending and straightening of the knee, and the affected leg is gradually transitioned from partial weight-bearing to full weight-bearing. Continue to strengthen the muscle strength training, and at the same time, carry out the knee joint movement control and flexibility training. Functional training is carried out gradually at a later stage, such as weight-bearing → slow walking → fast walking → slow running → fast running → variable speed running.
Meniscus injury should be timely to the hospital, early and actively with the rehabilitation treatment, to promote the functional recovery of the limb.