Early Phase ACL and TKE Progressions

This quick blog will discuss some options for early rehab utilizing visual feedback with a knee patient. This may apply to post operative ACL rehab or Total Knee rehab, or any patient needing to lock in some early-on skills such as terminal knee extension range of motion or open chain hip control.

The benefits to adding the visual feedback "external cues" during rehab are that the user is allowed to decide what success is based on their performance as they watch it in real-time. This encourages a creative and autonomous approach to exercise, as the user adjusts speed, control and extent of movement based on visual goals that are external. The implicit goal of the exercise (for instance, to gain extension) is a by-product of the user engaging with an outside feedback mechanism (the laser light) and a strategy (moving it toward their toe).

Make it Fun.

As early phase exercises are often tedious and difficult to grasp in value, adding visuals ups engagement and performance feedback, without a lot of the unnecessary instruction: it can be as simple as "move the laser towards x" or "keep the laser on x".

Here are a few simple progressions, starting with OCK and moving to early CKC exercise.

You can get creative with the process from there. Lots of other ideas can be found on our YouTube Lower Extremity Channel- enjoy!

- Motion Guidance Team