A few of the new exercises added to the knee rehab program. The other exercises have since been progressed, or discontinued, depending upon evaluation, and largely the level at which the patient completes them.
Multi-Hip - An exercise typically seen performed on machines, but can be changed if a machine isn't available. Most exercises are that way; can be modified as such to perform the actions you are trying to accomplish. The tubing is of moderate resistance and is affixed to his uninvolved leg. The involved leg then becomes the stabilizer, thus improving his proprioception, strength, and balance. In early stages, using a stick or some type of device is helpful in preventing your patient from falling.
Working hip abductors
Working hip adductors, primarily
Lateral Cup Slides - Being a basketball player, sliding from side-to-side is important for defensive stances, as well as getting your body low. This exercise replicates those movements. At this stage, only 4 cups were used; mainly as distance markers for him to meet.
For the last set, we incorporated an additional cup for him to pick up, and then place back down, in order to add more knee flexion; making sure to watch for all bending motions to come from the knee, and not so much at the hip.
Modified Squat - There is added resistance with the use of his arms, which are forced in a downward (palms down) swinging motion while squatting, and an upward motion (palms up) while returning to start position.
Downward motion
Upward motion
Jogging - For a patient that is 6'10" you can imagine this would be somewhat difficult for such a small hot tub.
Marching - Marching was actually more difficult than light jog. In the picture, the patient is shown with his knee somewhat out of the water, but this is only for demonstration purposes, as this is a practice we do not want to make a habit of. The patients' knee should be submerged under water at all time. They can bring their knee up as close to the surface as possible, but avoid lifting it any further.
If the patient is not tired by the end of the workout/exercises, think to increase the level of intensity, or volume, depending on the stage of their rehab. Dealing with Div. I athletes, one would expect them to be in top physical form, but that is not always the case, so it is always important to treat every case with specificity and be careful not generalize. Usually we will end most exercises with a 15 minute bike ride, or a minimum of 5 minutes out on the track, then finally, end with cryotherapy. Some individuals like to be challenged more than others and it is great working with those types, but also understand not everyone heals the same, so different people will be at different stages after certain amounts of time.
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