Returning to the Gym after Knee Injuries
By Ehren Allen, DPT, COMT
Returning to the Gym after Knee Injuries
When your therapist tells you that you are ready to be discharged from physical therapy after knee injuries, where do you turn next? We recommend finding a gym or workout facility that is comfortable and close to where your normal routine takes you. First, start out by considering if your neighborhood has a workout facility or if you need to join a free-standing gym facility. Second, check out the facilities that you are considering and find out cost, facility hours, equipment availability, and if staff is around to help you if needed. Third, ask all the questions that you have and choose the place that makes you most comfortable. Fourth, make sure that the facility you choose is close to your home/work and will be easy to get to on a regular basis. Finally, always ask your physical therapist for a “Plan” for your gym workout.
Most important during you gym program is to maintain the strength of your knee extensors or the Quadriceps group in the front of your leg. While in PT, you completed straight leg raises, knee extensions and leg press/squat activities. All of these activities can be included in the gym. Depending on you facility, there may be specialized knee equipment. It is also very important to maintain the flexibility of your leg muscles including your calf muscles (Gastrocnemius and Soleus) as well as your Hamstring. This allows the leg to keep its full extension and maintain the straightness of the knee. Periodic bending of the knee should also occur to stretch the quadriceps muscles. A stationary bike is a great tool to maintain the range of motion of the knee. Usually, at 20-30 minutes 3x/week is the best for the knee.
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JOI Rehab Treatment Programs
Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists offer rehab service to get you back to the gym. It doesn’t matter what your condition is, we can certainly help you to get back to the activities you love. We work with our physicians for a safe and speedy recovery from all of your injuries. There is a reason why the pro’s choose to go to JOI and JOI Rehab! If you have an injury, don’t wait, give us a call.
To schedule a new patient or follow up patient appointment with your MD, please call (904)JOI-2000.
- Finally, to schedule an appointment for physical or occupational therapy, call 904-858-7045 or visit 13 area JOI Rehab Centers.
JOI and JOI Rehab
JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.
You can still call 904-JOI-2000 to make new patient JOI Physician Appointments if that is your preference.
To make appointments with JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.
JOI Rehab