Knee Rehabilitation Programme (overview)

The exercises on these pages have been chosen to make the muscles in and around your knee stronger. This gives your knee more support, so that you can improve the function of your knee (how your knee works) and help with your knee pain.

The exercises are divided into groups for early knee rehabilitation. Progress through the exercises as you get stronger; and then to later rehab/return to sport. The physiotherapist will guide you as to which exercises are best for your stage of rehabilitation.

You should try to do these exercises three times a week for approximately 20 to 30 minutes until you reach your goal. Increasing the resistance (working with a weight), working your muscles to fatigue (so that they are tired and may shake), are important to build muscle bulk and strength so that your knee gets better.

Icing your knee can help with inflammation and pain. You should ice your knee regularly as part of your knee rehabilitation programme. Do not apply ice directly to your skin - wrap the ice in a wet cloth first before applying to your skin. Use the ice for no more than 10 - 20 minutes at a time.