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Career Program Guide

Grade Level: Nineteen-year-old female, college basketball player, first month post-op from
ACL surgery. The objective of this program is for the patient to gain mobility, strength and
stability of the knee joint (Prentice, 2011).
Rehabilitation Program First 4 weeks, progressions of 4 5 basic exercises, working on
range of motion, strength and stability.
Week 1 post-op: Working on minor range of motion exercises in order to keep the joint mobile.
All exercises are to be performed 3 times during the week, on non-consecutive days.
1. Seated heel drags using a lubricant or towel under the heel for smooth movement.
Begin with 2 sets of 10 repetitions, slow and controlled movements.

2. Quad setting from a seated position, (press the back of the knee towards the top of the
exam table), hold for 5 seconds, 10 repetitions, 2 times.

3. Straight leg raises in 4 directions, hip flexion, hip abduction, hip extension and hip
adduction, 2 sets of 10 repetitions per direction.

3. Prone leg hangs, no added weight, for 5 minutes, or the length patient is able to hold.

4. Finish with icing the knee for 20 30 minutes.

Week 2 Post-Op: Range of motion, strength and flexibility improvement. All exercises are to be
performed 3 times per week, on non-consecutive days.
1. Supine heel slides on exam table, 3 sets of 10 repetitions

2. Quad setting, push down against a towel from a seated position, (press the back of the
knee towards the top of the exam table), hold for 5-10 seconds, 10 repetitions, 3
times.

3. Straight leg raises in 4 directions, hip flexion, hip abduction, hip extension and hip
adduction, 3 sets of 10 repetitions per direction, using light resistance of 1 3 lbs.

4. Prone leg hangs, with additional weight of 1 3 lbs., for 5 8 minutes, or the length
patient is able to hold

5. Electrical stimulation and ice knee for 20 30 minutes.

Week 3 and 4 post-op: Increasing range of motion, strength and flexibility. All exercises to be
performed 3 times per week, on non-consecutive days.
1. Seated heel slides on exam table, 3 sets of 10 repetitions. Range of motion of knee
flexion should be increasing, getting the heel closer to the torso.

2. Seated quad setting/knee extension 10 repetitions, 3 times.

3. Straight leg raises in 4 directions, hip flexion, hip abduction, hip extension and hip
adduction, 3 sets of 10 repetitions per direction, using Thera-bands.

4. Prone leg hangs, with additional weight of 3 - 5 lbs., for 8 - 10 minutes, or the length
patient is able to hold.

5. Timed weight bearing & balancing 15 30 seconds, repeat 3 times

6. STIM and Ice 20- 30 min.

Content Framework
Because this is a rehabilitation program, the framework utilized is progression of joint mobility,
increase of strength and stability of the knee joint (Prentice, 2011) . The ultimate goal is to aid
the athlete in complete recovery and return to playing her sport.

References
Prentice, W. E. (2011). Principles of Athletic Training (14th ed.). New York, NY, USA: McGraw
Hill.