The home PT came yesterday and emphasized that by the time the OS sees me for follow up this Friday he would expect a bend of 90 degrees on the operated knee
This may or may not be true. We’ve had other members who were told this, went to their appointment before reaching 90 and their surgeon was happy with their knee.
And even if he does expect it, your knee is on its own healing journey and will come along fine, given time. Don’t fear “the window of opportunity” because it doesn’t exist. My ROM is
still improving at 2.5
years post op.
She said I should push the heel slide exercise as if the correct bend isn’t achieved scar tissue would form and it’s function would never return to normal.
I am amazed the anyone in the medical field would tell a patient this. As Celle is fond of saying, “scar tissue” is not just sitting there waiting to pounce if you don’t exercise enough. The opposite is more likely, pushing hot inflamed tissue to over exercise is the best way to cause an adhesion. (notice I did not call this scar tissue. There’s a big difference.)
Please don’t push anything. You will progress better if you treat your knee gently and patiently let it heal.
It’s not exercising that gets our range of motion back, it’s Time:
Time to recover.
Time for pain and swelling to settle.
Time to heal.
Our range of motion is right there all
along just waiting for that to happen so it can show itself.
In the general run of things, it doesn't need to be fought for, worked hard for or worried about. It will happen. Exercise as in strength training is counter-productive and in the early weeks does more harm than good. Normal activity is the key to success.