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Treatment for knee injuries depends on the severity of the injury. The patient's activity level and overall health are also important factors to consider before treatment begins.

Depending on the activity level of the patient, most knee tears are treated with physical therapy, which helps build strength and increase flexibility in the knee. Physical therapy usually lasts a few weeks, at which time most patients return to normal activities.

Treatment may include RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) muscle-strengthening exercises, and a protective knee brace.

Recovery

Rehabilitation therapy is the key to recovery from most knee injuries. Physical therapy will concentrate on bending and stretching exercises to increase range of motion, flexibility, and strength in the knee. While the knee may feel tight and slightly painful, it is important to keep the joint moving in order to promote healing and to maintain flexibility. Strength building exercises are very important to improve joint stability, and to reduce stress on the ligaments.

All patient education materials are provided by OrthoPatientEd.com and have been reviewed by our Advisory Board of leading Orthopedic Surgeons to ensure accuracy. All materials are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from your orthopedic surgeon. Any medical decisions should be made after consulting a qualified physician. This site includes links to other web sites. OrthoPatientEd.com takes no responsibility for the content or information contained in the linked sites.

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