Symptoms
- Loud pop at the time of injury
- Rapid swelling within hours
- Severe pain and inability to continue activity
- Feeling of knee instability or giving way
- Loss of full range of motion
Common causes
- Sudden deceleration or stopping
- Pivoting with foot firmly planted
- Landing awkwardly from a jump
- Direct blow to the knee
- Female athletes at higher risk due to anatomy
How physiotherapy helps
Pre-surgical rehab focuses on reducing swelling, restoring ROM, and strengthening muscles. Post-surgical rehab follows a structured protocol over 6-9 months including progressive strengthening, proprioception training, and sport-specific drills.
Exercises your physiotherapist may give you
- Quad sets and straight leg raises (early phase)
- Heel slides for ROM
- Mini squats and leg press
- Balance board exercises
- Step-ups and lunges (mid phase)
- Running and agility drills (late phase)
Please note: start these exercises only after an assessment, and stop if pain increases. Your physiotherapist will choose the right exercises, number of repetitions and progression for you.
Guide written by the physiotherapists of CAPT – Centre for Advanced Physiotherapy, MVM Educational Trust. For more reading, search MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).