Rehabilitation of the multiple-ligament-injured knee.

Rehabilitation for a patient with a multiple-ligament knee injury should be designed to reduce pain and swelling, restore range of motion, strength, and endurance, and to enhance proprioception, and dynamic stability of the knee, with the goals of restoring function and minimizing disability. The biomechanics of the knee must be considered when designing a rehabilitation program. General guidelines for rehabilitation of the multiple-ligament-injured knee include considerations for promoting tissue healing, decreasing pain and swelling, restoring full motion, increasing muscular strength and endurance, improving proprioception, enhancing dynamic stability of the knee, and reducing functional limitations and disability. A patient's progression through this sequence must be individualized and depends on the pattern of ligament injury or surgical procedure that was performed, and the principles of tissue healing. Specific guidelines for rehabilitation following ACL reconstruction combined with MCL repair, PCL reconstruction, combined ACL-PCL reconstruction, and reconstruction of the LCL and posterolateral corner have been provided.