Staying active is great for your health, yet it can sometimes lead to knee problems. Knee arthroscopy is a common, minimally invasive procedure that lets your surgeon diagnose and treat many of these issues through small incisions. With the right information and a proactive approach, you can support your healing and return to the activities you enjoy.
What Arthroscopy Involves
During arthroscopy, your surgeon places a thin tube called an arthroscope into your knee through a tiny incision. A small camera on the scope displays the inside of the joint on a screen, which helps your surgeon see what needs attention. In many cases, treatment can be done through these small openings, which often leads to quicker healing and less scarring compared to open surgery.
Your Role in Healing
Recovery speed varies for each person. Your age, the type of knee injury, and how your body responds to treatment all play a part. Following your care plan, asking questions, and taking small daily steps at home can make a meaningful difference.
Setting Personal Recovery Goals
Work with your healthcare team to outline goals that fit your lifestyle. Short-term goals might include walking without crutches or returning to desk work. A long-term goal is usually getting back full knee function for everyday life and favorite activities.
The knee connects the thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia). Smooth tissue called articular cartilage covers the bone ends so the joint glides easily. The kneecap (patella) protects the front of the knee, while the meniscus, a C-shaped pad of cartilage inside the joint, cushions and absorbs shock.
Strong bands called ligaments stabilize the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) sit inside the joint, and the collateral ligaments run along the sides. The quadriceps and hamstring muscles help move and support the knee.
Meniscus Tears
A quick twist, a sudden pivot, or frequent deep squatting can injure the meniscus. Symptoms often include swelling, pain, and a feeling that the knee locks or catches when you bend it.
Evaluating A Tear
Meniscus tears come in different shapes and sizes. Some are small and near the rim, while others run deeper into the cartilage. Arthroscopy allows your surgeon to see the exact location and pattern of the tear.
Repairing A Tear
Treatment depends on the tear's location and size. Some tears can be repaired with sutures, which preserve the meniscus. Others are trimmed to remove damaged tissue (a partial meniscectomy) while protecting as much healthy cartilage as possible.
What Recovery Looks Like
Healing can take 3 weeks to 3 months or longer, depending on whether the meniscus was trimmed or repaired. You may be asked to use crutches, wear a brace after a repair, and complete exercises to restore motion and strength. With a consistent plan, most people do very well.
Ligament Injuries
Ligaments support the knee and limit excessive movement. A forceful pivot or a direct hit can partially or completely tear a ligament, which may cause swelling, a wobbly feeling, or difficulty bearing weight.
How Your Surgeon Evaluates It
AclInjuryOrTraumaAsTearOrSprainOfAnterior
Arthroscopy allows your surgeon to confirm an ACL tear and assess the inside of the joint. Collateral ligaments, which sit on the sides of the knee, are not visible with the scope, so they are typically evaluated through a physical exam and imaging, such as an MRI.
How Tears Are Treated
Partial ACL tears may be managed without reconstruction. A fully torn ACL is often reconstructed using a graft, which is healthy tissue taken from your own body (autograft) or a donor (allograft). Torn collateral ligaments may be repaired with sutures if needed.
What Recovery Looks Like
Ligaments heal slowly. A partial tear may take up to 3 months to settle. If you have an ACL reconstruction, recovery can range from 6 months to a year or more. You will use crutches, wear a hinged brace, and follow a progressive exercise plan. After healing, some athletes use a functional brace for certain sports, such as skiing.
Cartilage Wear and Tear
Articular cartilage lets the knee move with minimal friction. Over time or after an injury, this surface can wear down. Sometimes small pieces of cartilage or bone break loose and float in the joint, causing pain or stiffness.
How Your Surgeon Evaluates It
knee repair damage
Wear can be mild, with minor rough spots (fraying), or severe, with areas worn down to the bone. Loose bodies may also be present and can be seen and removed during arthroscopy.
How Damage Is Treated
Mild roughness may be smoothed to reduce irritation (a procedure called chondroplasty). If bone is exposed, your surgeon may use a special tool to create small holes in the bone to prompt a healing response (microfracture). In select cases, healthy cartilage can be transplanted to a worn area. Any loose fragments are cleared out to improve motion.
What Recovery Looks Like
Recovery varies by procedure and ranges from about 4 weeks to 6 months. You may need to use crutches for a time, perform exercises to restore motion and strength, and use simple strategies to protect your knees, such as
sitting on a gardening stool or using a golf cart when needed.
Kneecap Problems (Patellofemoral Issues)
The back of the kneecap is covered with cartilage that helps the joint move smoothly. With injury, overuse, or aging, this surface can become rough and painful. Some people also have kneecap-tracking problems, in which the patella does not stay centered in its groove during bending.
Rough cartilage under the kneecap is called chondromalacia. Tracking issues occur when the kneecap moves off-center during motion, which can cause pain, popping, or a sense of instability.
How Problems Are Treated
The surgeon may smooth rough areas to reduce friction. Exercises often help strengthen the muscles that keep the kneecap aligned. In some cases, a procedure called a lateral release can cut tight tissues on the outside of the kneecap to improve its tracking.
What Recovery Looks Like
Healing after kneecap procedures typically ranges from 4 weeks to 4 months. You may wear a compression dressing if you have a lateral release, use crutches as directed, and do exercises to improve motion and build the muscles that hold the kneecap centered. Swimming is often a comfortable way to stay active during this period.
After Surgery: What to Expect
Before you go home, make sure you understand your plan. If anything is unclear, ask your care team so you feel confident about the next steps.
Key Things to Know Before Discharge
How and when to take your medications
How to use crutches safely
How much weight you can put on your leg
Which exercises to do and how often
When your bandage or stitches will be removed
When you can shower or bathe
When it is safe to drive
When you can return to work
When to schedule follow-up appointments
When to Call Your Surgeon
Contact your surgeon right away if you notice any of the following:
Fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher
Pain that does not improve with rest and medication
Increased swelling despite elevation and icing
Redness, tenderness, or warmth at the incision
Pus or drainage from the incision
Severe nausea or vomiting
Sudden chest pain or shortness of breath (Call 911)
At-Home Recovery Essentials
Good home care supports a smoother recovery. Follow your provider's guidance and do not remove your bandage or shower until you are told it is safe.
Elevation
Raising your leg helps with pain and swelling. Prop your leg on a chair or large pillow so the knee is above the level of your heart whenever possible.
Icing
Cold reduces discomfort and swelling. Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, every 2 to 3 waking hours during the first few days, or as your provider suggests. Wrap an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel to protect your skin.
Eating and Hydration
Mild nausea can happen after anesthesia. Start with light foods like soup or toast and drink plenty of fluids. Return to your normal diet as your stomach settles.
Pain Medication
Take medications exactly as directed. To stay ahead of the pain, you may need to take it on a schedule for the first day or two. Avoid alcohol while using pain medication.
Circulation Exercises
Gentle movement helps prevent blood clots. Point and flex your ankles and wiggle your toes often throughout the day. This is often called 'ankle pumps'.
Home Exercises for Your Knee
Strength and flexibility support your recovery and help protect your joint. Perform these exercises as instructed by your surgeon or physical therapist. Unless told otherwise, work both legs to keep your muscles balanced.
[IMAGE: Side view illustration of person lying down performing heel slides exercise, with arrow showing heel sliding toward buttocks to bend knee.]
Heel Slides
Lie down or sit on a firm surface. Slowly slide the heel of your surgical leg toward your buttocks, bending the knee as far as comfortable. Hold for 5 seconds, then slowly straighten the knee and slide the heel back. Repeat as directed.
[IMAGE: Side view illustration of person lying down with leg straight, performing quad sets exercise with arrow indicating pressing knee toward floor to tighten quadriceps muscle.]
Quad Sets
While lying or sitting with your leg straight, tighten the muscles on the front of your thigh (quadriceps) and press the back of your knee gently toward the surface. Hold for 5 seconds, relax, and repeat. This helps wake up and strengthen the quadriceps.
[IMAGE: Side view illustration of person lying down with one knee bent, lifting straight leg 8-12 inches off surface with arrow indicating upward motion of leg raise.]
Straight Leg Raises
Lie on your back with your non-operative leg bent. Perform a quad set on your surgical leg to lock the knee straight, then slowly lift the entire leg 8 to 12 inches off the surface. Hold for 5 seconds, lower slowly, and repeat. Ensure your back does not arch.
Physical Therapy: What to Expect
Your surgeon will likely prescribe physical therapy to decrease pain, restore range of motion, and build strength. Your therapist will tailor a plan to your goals and your specific knee condition.
Working With Your Therapist
Your therapist will help you set targets and progress them safely. Keep your appointments and follow the home program to get the best results.
Common Therapy Approaches
Manual therapy, including gentle stretching or massage, can reduce stiffness and improve flexibility.
Therapeutic exercises using bodyweight, resistance bands, or weight machines to train specific muscle groups that support the knee.
Balance and proprioception training to improve your joint's stability.
Aerobic activities like stationary biking or aquatic therapy to strengthen the legs and support heart and lung health.
Returning to Fitness Safely
Flexible and strong muscles help protect your knee over time. Always check with your healthcare provider or physical therapist before starting or changing your exercise plan.
Goal Setting You Can Use
Clear goals keep you motivated and show your progress. Consider writing down targets like these and reviewing them with your provider:
In ___ days, I want to walk without crutches.
In ___ weeks, I want to increase my knee range of motion by 50 percent.
By ___ (month), I want to return to ___ (activity).
Other personal goals: _________________________
Quick Summary
[IMAGE: Active older couple in white shirts exercising outdoors in a park setting, both smiling with arms raised in tai chi or stretching positions. Trees and grass visible in background, representing successful return to active lifestyle after recovery.]
A knee injury does not have to limit what you love to do. With support from your surgeon and physical therapist, plus your steady effort at home, you can move forward with confidence. Many people are walking comfortably within days and getting back to most activities within weeks or months, based on their procedure and dedicated rehabilitation.
Understand what happens during knee arthroscopy
Set clear goals with your care team
Learn about common knee injuries and treatments
Know what to do after surgery and when to call for help
Follow simple home-care steps for comfort and safety
Start approved exercises and consider physical therapy
Ease back into fitness and everyday activities safely
Have Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of our offices. This information is provided solely for educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. For detailed advice please contact us at (609) 924-8131, text us at (609) 757-9992 or send us a message via our contact form.
