Pain around or behind the kneecap that flares on stairs, squats, running, or long stretches of sitting is usually patellofemoral pain (PFP). It is common, with a 2018 meta-analysis in PLOS ONE putting annual prevalence in the general population at 22.7%, and it has a reputation for lingering. Current guidelines are clear about where treatment...
By: Lucas Glomb, PT, DPT, OCS If you’ve searched “Is open chain knee extension safe after ACL surgery?” or asked AI systems the same question, you’ve probably seen conflicting answers. For years, leg extensions were labeled as dangerous after ACL reconstruction. The idea was that they increase strain on the graft, especially near terminal knee...
An ACL injury is a tear or severe sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament, one of the primary stabilizing ligaments of the knee. This injury is the most common sports-related knee injury we see in our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics. Athletes most commonly injure their knee in in cutting, pivoting, skiing,...
An ACL tear does not automatically mean surgery is required. In the past, reconstruction was commonly recommended for nearly every ACL injury. However, more recent research shows some patients can achieve similar outcomes with structured physical therapy compared to surgery followed by rehabilitation. Studies comparing early surgery with early physical therapy have found no significant...
By: Lucas Glomb, PT, DPT, OCS Much physical therapy still bases ACL rehabilitation on timelines and protocols. Week-by-week progressions, boxes to check, phases that unlock just because enough days have passed. It’s organized. It’s easy to follow. But it misses the point. Time tells you how long it’s been since surgery. It doesn’t tell you...
By: Lucas Glomb, PT, DPT, OCS The 8-12 week mark following ACL reconstruction is one of the most critical phases of rehab. Early on, the focus is on restoring range of motion, managing swelling, and regaining basic function – something that most PT clinics do very well. However, by the 8-12 week mark, the priority...
The first total knee replacement was performed in the late 1960s and the surgery has become one of the most successful procedures in orthopedics. Authors estimate up to 600,000 total knee replacements are performed each year to reduce pain and improve function in patients with knee arthritis. Many of these patients will undergo both pre...
By: Lucas Glomb, PT, DPT, OCS ACL reconstruction is a common surgery for athletes and active individuals, but one of the biggest challenges during ACL rehab is restoring normal quadriceps strength and activation. Even when the ligament heals well, many patients experience persistent quad weakness, difficulty achieving full knee extension, and reduced confidence returning to...
ACL injuries are among the most common serious knee injuries in alpine skiing because the sport combines speed, uneven terrain, and sudden directional changes that place rotational stress on the knee. When a skier falls with the ski fixed in the snow as the body continues to rotate, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can tear....
By: Lucas Glomb, PT, DPT, OCS If you’ve torn your ACL, one of the biggest factors in how well you recover actually happens before surgery. Pre-operative physical therapy, commonly called “prehab”, sets the stage for everything that follows. Patients who prepare their knee before surgery consistently demonstrate better strength, improved function, and smoother recoveries afterward. Restore...
