If you’ve ever consulted Wisconsin Knee Injury Lawyer, you know that your case heavily depends on the extent to which an attorney can document your injuries. In a knee injury case, you can have permanent damage and seek compensation from the at-fault insurance company, but it could take a long time. Meanwhile, if you stop going to therapy recommended by your doctor or physical therapist, it’s difficult to make your case. We thought the following information would prove helpful for people trying to recover from a knee injury or another joint injury:
The Knee Injury and Other Joint Complaints
Anyone with a knee injury is concerned with restoring the joint’s full range of motion (ROM). This is how far the joint will move for maximum extension, such as the elbow enabling the hand to extend away from the body. When a patient goes to therapy, there’s an immediate focus on modeling, practicing, and mastering exercises that will help restore the joint to its full ROM. Therapy might also include teaching good habits for preventing injuries in the future. As an accident victim learns different exercises, he or she may have questions about the proper stretches to perform prior to workouts, especially after the joint injury has healed.
The Importance of Stretching
One technique that a typical therapist uses throughout the day is stretching. Any stretch looks a little different based on a patient’s current ROM. Much has been been written about the use of stretching in therapy, which is just as important for people doing regular sports.
Stretching: Should You Do It Before Exercise?
When a therapist works with a patient, this is a popular question. What kind of stretching is recommended before exercise? Some patients also want to stretch in ways that minimize pain. Phil Page, PT, PhD, ATC, CSCS, FACSM, published an article in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy entitled “Current Concepts in Muscle Stretching for Exercise and Rehabilitation.” He noted the following:
“The literature is conflicting regarding the effects of warm-up stretching prior to exercise. Static and dynamic warm-ups are equally effective at increasing ROM prior to exercise. Some researchers report static stretching after warm-up decreases performance, while others report no change or an increase in performance. While static stretching is generally followed by an immediate decrease in strength, static stretching performed before or after warm-up does not decrease strength. The volume of static stretching may also affect performance: Robbins et al reported that 4 repetitions of 15-second holds of static stretching did not affect vertical jump, while 6 repetitions reduced performance.”
Breaking It Down
There’s a lot going on in Page’s summary. An individual may try different types of stretching before therapy or exercise. Page explains that static stretching is when a patient holds the body in a position to the point that the muscle experiences a stretching sensation, and then the process gets repeated. Dynamic stretching is either moving the limb through a full range of motion or bouncing, which is a series of rapid alternating movements. Your therapist may recommend a combination of dynamic stretching and static stretching as well as a third kind of stretching called pre-contraction stretching. In all of these stretching scenarios, you must perform a movement safely and understand proper posture and foot placement.
A Word of Caution
It is easy for a knee injury victim to become more confident about increased strength and mobility. This creates the potential for the victim to avoid a recommended stretch or exercise that the therapist has provided, especially if it feels too easy or too painful. It’s important for knee injury patients to follow through on all recommended exercises and restore their joints to their full ROM. This may not be possible in cases with severe injuries.
To understand the importance of completing all therapy as you document the effects of your knee injury, please contact us today.
