Rehabilitation of the injured knee.

The basis of rehabilitation is to return the patient to the preinjury status. The physician must recognize that muscle is made up of both Type I and Type II fibers, Type I having endurance and Type II having speed capabilities. Immobilization for long periods of time is destructive to the ligaments, muscles, and cartilage of the affected area. Some immobilization is required, however, for the healing of tissues. The basis of any postinjury rehabilitation program should take into account that controlled motion can decrease the deleterious effect of immobilization. At the same time, it allows for healing. The ranges of motion that are allowed must be determined for each specific injury. An approach to determining the losses in the psychological and physiologic states of the patient is identified and recommendations for rehabilitation are given.