From the Moderator re: CPMs

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone!

I was catching up and read the responses about CPM. Let me give my opinion...

CPMs can be a helpful tool in TKR recovery but they are not a required tool. Many MDs use them because they are not sure the PTs and the patients will be able to be aggressive enough with physical therapy. MDs use them because patients relax into the machines and get the ROM. MDs use them sometimes because they've always ordered them.

Regardless, the CPM is not the ultimate answer. There are 4 components to TKR: Movement, ice, elevation and pain control. You cannot have a good outcome without these 4 things. The goal though is BALANCE! You have to find the balance in all of these. If you do too much or too little of any of these, you encounter difficulty.

The focus during the first 4 weeks after a TKR is FLEXIBILITY, NOT STRENGTHENING. This means that you bend the knee for flexion AND you stretch the back of the knee for extension. IT HURTS! We KNOW that. The focus though is that the hurt will decrease over time. Your knee did not get this way overnight so it does not go away overnight. Set yourself up to do a little more than the time before. Even if you can't do much, you can still do a little more each time. You have to start somewhere! Do not use a pillow directly under the knee joint but still use stacked pillows to elevate the whole length of the leg for swelling. The knee will go straight now that the arthritis is gone but the muscles hurt in the stretching process.

CPMs have their place but just don't depend on them alone. They don't make you stronger! You have to lay down to use them so you aren't being active (continuous PASSIVE motion). Your MD wants you to keep the motion you get and to USE the motion you get!

And to the gentleman that asked for an article on the benefits of CPM, let me say GREAT QUESTION!! Everyone should look for objective evidence as to why things work or not. I am attaching an article that explains the recovery for hip and knee replacement (since this group addresses both). There is a great section on CPM and they too realize that CPM is not the answer for everyone but that there are reasons it may help. I will also download the article in the listserve in case people don't get attachments...

Feel free to email me if I don't respond soon enough to the listserve. I try to stay out of the way unless I am needed.

Thanks,

Alisa

[Guest guest]

Hi Moderator,

I appreciated your input and information on CPM's. However, I felt a

little cheated because I didn't get any of the advantages of having

one to help with some of the flexation. However, you can comment on

the opposite end of the spectrum, these god awful leg casts I'm forced

to wear every night that force extension on my knees. I know this is

supposed to help straighten my knees, but they are the most

UNCOMFORTABLE thing there is to sleep in and I find it extremely hard

to sleep at all.

I am now 7-weeks post BL-TKR and I have -3 and -4 extension on my

knees as well as 114 & 116 flex. I just went to the doctor today and

got told I have a minimum of another 4-weeks in the torture casts.

What's your opinions on that? Everyone else?

Alan B.

P.S. Everyone Else -- Keep pushing, Keep Bending, Keep doing it; our

goals are within reach.

>

> Hi everyone! I was catching up and read the responses about CPM. Let

> me give my opinion... CPMs can be a helpful tool in TKR recovery but

> they are not a required tool. Many MDs use them because they are not

> sure the PTs and the patients will be able to be aggressive enough with

> physical therapy. MDs use them because patients relax into the machines

> and get the ROM. MDs use them sometimes because they've always ordered

> them. Regardless, the CPM is not the ultimate answer. There are 4

> components to TKR: Movement, ice, elevation and pain control. You

> cannot have a good outcome without these 4 things. The goal though is

> BALANCE! You have to find the balance in all of these. If you do too

> much or too little of any of these, you encounter difficulty. The

> focus during the first 4 weeks after a TKR is FLEXIBILITY, NOT

> STRENGTHENING. This means that you bend the knee for flexion AND you

> stretch the back of the knee for extension. IT HURTS! We KNOW that.

> The focus though is that the hurt will decrease over time. Your knee

> did not get this way overnight so it does not go away overnight. Set

> yourself up to do a little more than the time before. Even if you can't

> do much, you can still do a little more each time. You have to start

> somewhere! Do not use a pillow directly under the knee joint but still

> use stacked pillows to elevate the whole length of the leg for swelling.

> The knee will go straight now that the arthritis is gone but the muscles

> hurt in the stretching process. CPMs have their place but just don't

> depend on them alone. They don't make you stronger! You have to lay

> down to use them so you aren't being active (continuous PASSIVE motion).

> Your MD wants you to keep the motion you get and to USE the motion you

> get! And to the gentleman that asked for an article on the benefits of

> CPM, let me say GREAT QUESTION!! Everyone should look for objective

> evidence as to why things work or not. I am attaching an article that

> explains the recovery for hip and knee replacement (since this group

> addresses both). There is a great section on CPM and they too realize

> that CPM is not the answer for everyone but that there are reasons it

> may help. I will also download the article in the listserve in case

> people don't get attachments... Feel free to email me if I don't

> respond soon enough to the listserve. I try to stay out of the way

> unless I am needed. Thanks, Alisa

>

[Guest guest]

My take on this is nothing is as bad as the pain before hand. Yes it

is work to get your flex in your knee back but it is worth the work. I

swear by the cpm machine. I believe it kept my knee flexible so my

therapy and exercises were easier and my warm up was minimal. I don't

feel I was lazy or negative but do feel the cpm machine was a boost to

me. I slept in a leg brace at night for a few weeks because I kept

wanting to sleep with my knee bent at a 90 degree angle. I was very

surprised that the brace didn't bother me.We have to realize this was

major surgery and it will take major therapy to recover the years of

damage to the knee plus all the work the OS did during the surgery. I

think many of us get discouraged that it takes so long to heal. I am 9

months out on my second tkr and I am to the point I don't even think

about the fact that am recovering from a tkr. I am pretty much on the

same schedule I was with my first one three years ago. I am working

with a gal that is a month out tomorrow and she has been discouraged

that she can't clean house, be up all day, walk unassisted, and go

shopping all in one day(just an example). I keep telling her , " give

yourself some slack. It will come. " I found that if I relax and don't

become all up tight that my flex came easier and I progressed faster.

Both of my knees have 140 degree bends and will lay flat. I am very

pleased with the new knees. My old ones were more than worn out. I

would encourage all of you that are discouraged to just back off and

work but not at a do or die pace.

On Nov 7, 2006, at 11:42 AM, mbwebman wrote:

> Hi Moderator,

>

> I appreciated your input and information on CPM's. However, I felt a

> little cheated because I didn't get any of the advantages of having

> one to help with some of the flexation. However, you can comment on

> the opposite end of the spectrum, these god awful leg casts I'm forced

> to wear every night that force extension on my knees. I know this is

> supposed to help straighten my knees, but they are the most

> UNCOMFORTABLE thing there is to sleep in and I find it extremely hard

> to sleep at all.

>

> I am now 7-weeks post BL-TKR and I have -3 and -4 extension on my

> knees as well as 114 & 116 flex. I just went to the doctor today and

> got told I have a minimum of another 4-weeks in the torture casts.

> What's your opinions on that? Everyone else?

>

> Alan B.

>

> P.S. Everyone Else -- Keep pushing, Keep Bending, Keep doing it; our

> goals are within reach.

>

>

> >

> > Hi everyone! I was catching up and read the responses about CPM. Let

> > me give my opinion... CPMs can be a helpful tool in TKR recovery but

> > they are not a required tool. Many MDs use them because they are not

> > sure the PTs and the patients will be able to be aggressive enough

> with

> > physical therapy. MDs use them because patients relax into the

> machines

> > and get the ROM. MDs use them sometimes because they've always

> ordered

> > them. Regardless, the CPM is not the ultimate answer. There are 4

> > components to TKR: Movement, ice, elevation and pain control. You

> > cannot have a good outcome without these 4 things. The goal though

> is

> > BALANCE! You have to find the balance in all of these. If you do too

> > much or too little of any of these, you encounter difficulty. The

> > focus during the first 4 weeks after a TKR is FLEXIBILITY, NOT

> > STRENGTHENING. This means that you bend the knee for flexion AND you

> > stretch the back of the knee for extension. IT HURTS! We KNOW that.

> > The focus though is that the hurt will decrease over time. Your knee

> > did not get this way overnight so it does not go away overnight. Set

> > yourself up to do a little more than the time before. Even if you

> can't

> > do much, you can still do a little more each time. You have to start

> > somewhere! Do not use a pillow directly under the knee joint but

> still

> > use stacked pillows to elevate the whole length of the leg for

> swelling.

> > The knee will go straight now that the arthritis is gone but the

> muscles

> > hurt in the stretching process. CPMs have their place but just don't

> > depend on them alone. They don't make you stronger! You have to lay

> > down to use them so you aren't being active (continuous PASSIVE

> motion).

> > Your MD wants you to keep the motion you get and to USE the motion

> you

> > get! And to the gentleman that asked for an article on the benefits

> of

> > CPM, let me say GREAT QUESTION!! Everyone should look for objective

> > evidence as to why things work or not. I am attaching an article

> that

> > explains the recovery for hip and knee replacement (since this group

> > addresses both). There is a great section on CPM and they too

> realize

> > that CPM is not the answer for everyone but that there are reasons

> it

> > may help. I will also download the article in the listserve in case

> > people don't get attachments... Feel free to email me if I don't

> > respond soon enough to the listserve. I try to stay out of the way

> > unless I am needed. Thanks, Alisa

> >

>

>

" It is risky to go out on a limb but that is where the fruit is. "

[Guest guest]

I am now 7-weeks post BL-TKR and I have -3 and -4 extension on my

knees as well as 114 & 116 flex. I just went to the doctor

today and

got told I have a minimum of another 4-weeks in the torture casts.

What's your opinions on that? Everyone else?

I've never heard of that, Alan - sure does sound uncomfortable,

though!

I'm having no trouble with extension - I'm at either 0 or 1 degree every

time they measure. But the flexion is not nearly as good as yours -

I'm at 97 at just 6 weeks out from my LTKR.

Keep up the good work, though - you're doing great!

Anni

[Guest guest]

Having not had my tkr yet – tomorrow’s the

day – I don’t know how the cpm works for that.  However, almost 11 years ago, I

broke my leg and had a rod put in my tibia.  They had me use the machine after

surgery for four days while I was in the hospital.  I have never had problems

bending or straightening that leg since.  That was never an issue for my pt

after I was finally able to walk.  I’m hoping my doctor prescribes it for this

as I feel it can be very helpful from my prior experience.

Jen

" 'For I know the plans I have for

you' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans

to give you hope and a future.' " 29:11

Re:

Re: From the Moderator re: CPMs

My take on this is nothing is as bad as the pain before hand.

Yes it is work to get your flex in your knee back but it is worth the work. I

swear by the cpm machine. I believe it kept my knee flexible so my therapy and

exercises were easier and my warm up was minimal. I don't feel I was lazy or

negative but do feel the cpm machine was a boost to me. I slept in a leg brace

at night for a few weeks because I kept wanting to sleep with my knee bent at a

90 degree angle. I was very surprised that the brace didn't bother me.We have

to realize this was major surgery and it will take major therapy to recover the

years of damage to the knee plus all the work the OS did during the surgery. I

think many of us get discouraged that it takes so long to heal. I am 9 months

out on my second tkr and I am to the point I don't even think about the fact

that am recovering from a tkr. I am pretty much on the same schedule I was with

my first one three years ago. I am working with a gal that is a month out

tomorrow and she has been discouraged that she can't clean house, be up all

day, walk unassisted, and go shopping all in one day(just an example). I keep

telling her , " give yourself some slack. It will come. " I found that

if I relax and don't become all up tight that my flex came easier and I

progressed faster. Both of my knees have 140 degree bends and will lay flat. I

am very pleased with the new knees. My old ones were more than worn out. I

would encourage all of you that are discouraged to just back off and work but

not at a do or die pace.

On Nov 7, 2006, at 11:42 AM, mbwebman wrote:

Hi

Moderator,

I appreciated your input

and information on CPM's. However, I felt a

little cheated because I

didn't get any of the advantages of having

one to help with some of

the flexation. However, you can comment on

the opposite end of the

spectrum, these god awful leg casts I'm forced

to wear every night that

force extension on my knees. I know this is

supposed to help

straighten my knees, but they are the most

UNCOMFORTABLE thing

there is to sleep in and I find it extremely hard

to sleep at all.

I am now 7-weeks post

BL-TKR and I have -3 and -4 extension on my

knees as well as 114

& 116 flex. I just went to the doctor today and

got told I have a

minimum of another 4-weeks in the torture casts.

What's your opinions on

that? Everyone else?

Alan B.

P.S. Everyone Else --

Keep pushing, Keep Bending, Keep doing it; our

goals are within reach.

>

> Hi everyone! I was

catching up and read the responses about CPM. Let

> me give my

opinion... CPMs can be a helpful tool in TKR recovery but

> they are not a

required tool. Many MDs use them because they are not

> sure the PTs and

the patients will be able to be aggressive enough with

> physical therapy.

MDs use them because patients relax into the machines

> and get the ROM.

MDs use them sometimes because they've always ordered

> them. Regardless,

the CPM is not the ultimate answer. There are 4

> components to TKR:

Movement, ice, elevation and pain control. You

> cannot have a good

outcome without these 4 things. The goal though is

> BALANCE! You have

to find the balance in all of these. If you do too

> much or too little

of any of these, you encounter difficulty. The

> focus during the

first 4 weeks after a TKR is FLEXIBILITY, NOT

> STRENGTHENING. This

means that you bend the knee for flexion AND you

> stretch the back of

the knee for extension. IT HURTS! We KNOW that.

> The focus though is

that the hurt will decrease over time. Your knee

> did not get this

way overnight so it does not go away overnight. Set

> yourself up to do a

little more than the time before. Even if you can't

> do much, you can

still do a little more each time. You have to start

> somewhere! Do not

use a pillow directly under the knee joint but still

> use stacked pillows

to elevate the whole length of the leg for swelling.

> The knee will go

straight now that the arthritis is gone but the muscles

> hurt in the

stretching process. CPMs have their place but just don't

> depend on them

alone. They don't make you stronger! You have to lay

> down to use them so

you aren't being active (continuous PASSIVE motion).

> Your MD wants you

to keep the motion you get and to USE the motion you

> get! And to the

gentleman that asked for an article on the benefits of

> CPM, let me say

GREAT QUESTION!! Everyone should look for objective

> evidence as to why

things work or not. I am attaching an article that

> explains the

recovery for hip and knee replacement (since this group

> addresses both).

There is a great section on CPM and they too realize

> that CPM is not the

answer for everyone but that there are reasons it

> may help. I will

also download the article in the listserve in case

> people don't get

attachments... Feel free to email me if I don't

> respond soon enough

to the listserve. I try to stay out of the way

> unless I am needed.

Thanks, Alisa

>

" It

is risky to go out on a limb but that is where the fruit is. "

--

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.32/523 - Release Date: 11/7/2006

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Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.32/523 - Release Date: 11/7/2006

[Guest guest]

Jen I know God will be in that operating room with you and your

surgeons. He sure was with me each time every step of the way. I like

you scripture quotes. Am praying for you and hope you do get the cpm

machine. Elaine

On Nov 7, 2006, at 12:24 PM, Jen wrote:

> Having not had my tkr yet – tomorrow’s the day – I don’t know how the

> cpm works for that.  However, almost 11 years ago, I broke my leg and

> had a rod put in my tibia.  They had me use the machine after surgery

> for four days while I was in the hospital.  I have never had problems

> bending or straightening that leg since.  That was never an issue for

> my pt after I was finally able to walk.  I’m hoping my doctor

> prescribes it for this as I feel it can be very helpful from my prior

> experience.

>

>  

>

> Jen

>

> " 'For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord, 'plans to

> prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a

> future.' "   29:11

>

> Re: Re: From the Moderator re: CPMs

>

>  

>

> My take on this is nothing is as bad as the pain before hand. Yes it

> is work to get your flex in your knee back but it is worth the work. I

> swear by the cpm machine. I believe it kept my knee flexible so my

> therapy and exercises were easier and my warm up was minimal. I don't

> feel I was lazy or negative but do feel the cpm machine was a boost to

> me. I slept in a leg brace at night for a few weeks because I kept

> wanting to sleep with my knee bent at a 90 degree angle. I was very

> surprised that the brace didn't bother me.We have to realize this was

> major surgery and it will take major therapy to recover the years of

> damage to the knee plus all the work the OS did during the surgery. I

> think many of us get discouraged that it takes so long to heal. I am 9

> months out on my second tkr and I am to the point I don't even think

> about the fact that am recovering from a tkr. I am pretty much on the

> same schedule I was with my first one three years ago. I am working

> with a gal that is a month out tomorrow and she has been discouraged

> that she can't clean house, be up all day, walk unassisted, and go

> shopping all in one day(just an example). I keep telling her , " give

> yourself some slack. It will come. " I found that if I relax and don't

> become all up tight that my flex came easier and I progressed faster.

> Both of my knees have 140 degree bends and will lay flat. I am very

> pleased with the new knees. My old ones were more than worn out. I

> would encourage all of you that are discouraged to just back off and

> work but not at a do or die pace.

> On Nov 7, 2006, at 11:42 AM, mbwebman wrote:

>

> Hi Moderator,

>>

>>

>> I appreciated your input and information on CPM's. However, I felt a

>>

>> little cheated because I didn't get any of the advantages of having

>>

>> one to help with some of the flexation. However, you can comment on

>>

>> the opposite end of the spectrum, these god awful leg casts I'm

>> forced

>>

>> to wear every night that force extension on my knees. I know this is

>>

>> supposed to help straighten my knees, but they are the most

>>

>> UNCOMFORTABLE thing there is to sleep in and I find it extremely hard

>>

>> to sleep at all.

>>

>>

>> I am now 7-weeks post BL-TKR and I have -3 and -4 extension on my

>>

>> knees as well as 114 & 116 flex. I just went to the doctor today and

>>

>> got told I have a minimum of another 4-weeks in the torture casts.

>>

>> What's your opinions on that? Everyone else?

>>

>>

>> Alan B.

>>

>>

>> P.S. Everyone Else -- Keep pushing, Keep Bending, Keep doing it; our

>>

>> goals are within reach.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> >

>>

>> > Hi everyone! I was catching up and read the responses about CPM.

>> Let

>>

>> > me give my opinion... CPMs can be a helpful tool in TKR recovery

>> but

>>

>> > they are not a required tool. Many MDs use them because they are

>> not

>>

>> > sure the PTs and the patients will be able to be aggressive enough

>> with

>>

>> > physical therapy. MDs use them because patients relax into the

>> machines

>>

>> > and get the ROM. MDs use them sometimes because they've always

>> ordered

>>

>> > them. Regardless, the CPM is not the ultimate answer. There are 4

>>

>> > components to TKR: Movement, ice, elevation and pain control. You

>>

>> > cannot have a good outcome without these 4 things. The goal though

>> is

>>

>> > BALANCE! You have to find the balance in all of these. If you do

>> too

>>

>> > much or too little of any of these, you encounter difficulty. The

>>

>> > focus during the first 4 weeks after a TKR is FLEXIBILITY, NOT

>>

>> > STRENGTHENING. This means that you bend the knee for flexion AND

>> you

>>

>> > stretch the back of the knee for extension. IT HURTS! We KNOW that.

>>

>> > The focus though is that the hurt will decrease over time. Your

>> knee

>>

>> > did not get this way overnight so it does not go away overnight.

>> Set

>>

>> > yourself up to do a little more than the time before. Even if you

>> can't

>>

>> > do much, you can still do a little more each time. You have to

>> start

>>

>> > somewhere! Do not use a pillow directly under the knee joint but

>> still

>>

>> > use stacked pillows to elevate the whole length of the leg for

>> swelling.

>>

>> > The knee will go straight now that the arthritis is gone but the

>> muscles

>>

>> > hurt in the stretching process. CPMs have their place but just

>> don't

>>

>> > depend on them alone. They don't make you stronger! You have to lay

>>

>> > down to use them so you aren't being active (continuous PASSIVE

>> motion).

>>

>> > Your MD wants you to keep the motion you get and to USE the motion

>> you

>>

>> > get! And to the gentleman that asked for an article on the

>> benefits of

>>

>> > CPM, let me say GREAT QUESTION!! Everyone should look for objective

>>

>> > evidence as to why things work or not. I am attaching an article

>> that

>>

>> > explains the recovery for hip and knee replacement (since this

>> group

>>

>> > addresses both). There is a great section on CPM and they too

>> realize

>>

>> > that CPM is not the answer for everyone but that there are reasons

>> it

>>

>> > may help. I will also download the article in the listserve in case

>>

>> > people don't get attachments... Feel free to email me if I don't

>>

>> > respond soon enough to the listserve. I try to stay out of the way

>>

>> > unless I am needed. Thanks, Alisa

>>

>> >

>>

>>

> " It is risky to go out on a limb but that is where the fruit is. "

>

> --

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.32/523 - Release Date:

> 11/7/2006

>

>

> --

> No virus found in this outgoing message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.32/523 - Release Date:

> 11/7/2006

>

>

>

" If God brings you to it He will bring you through it. "

[Guest guest]

Hi Anni,

Let me clarify. The torture casts I referred to are the retainer

casts they have me wearing to bed every night to keep my legs

absolutely straight. They are the most uncomfortable things to try

and sleep in. You can't bend your legs and you either have to sleep

on your back or on your face. The metal ribs from the back tend to

dig into your muscles etc. When I wear them I'm lucky if I get 3 or 4

hours sleep. I was hoping to be done with them, but I guess it's

another month of this passive torture. Oh well, it could be worse, I

could be a politician and sentenced to hell.

Alan

In Joint Replacement , Ann Lauer <aelauer@...> wrote:

>

>

> >

> >I am now 7-weeks post BL-TKR and I have -3 and -4 extension on my

> >knees as well as 114 & 116 flex. I just went to the doctor today and

> >got told I have a minimum of another 4-weeks in the torture casts.

> >What's your opinions on that? Everyone else?

>

>

> I've never heard of that, Alan - sure does sound uncomfortable, though!

>

> I'm having no trouble with extension - I'm at either 0 or 1 degree

every

> time they measure. But the flexion is not nearly as good as yours -

I'm at

> 97 at just 6 weeks out from my LTKR.

>

> Keep up the good work, though - you're doing great!

>

> Anni

>

[Guest guest]

At 10:03 PM 11/7/2006 +0000, you wrote:

Hi Anni,

Let me clarify. The torture casts I referred to are the

retainer

casts they have me wearing to bed every night to keep my legs

absolutely straight. They are the most uncomfortable things to

try

and sleep in. You can't bend your legs and you either have to

sleep

on your back or on your face. The metal ribs from the back tend

to

dig into your muscles etc. When I wear them I'm lucky if I get 3 or

4

hours sleep. I was hoping to be done with them, but I guess

it's

another month of this passive torture. Oh well, it could be worse,

I

could be a politician and sentenced to hell.

Whew! Boy, that really does sound like a short version of hell, but

you've certainly got the right attitude - it's at least got an

endpoint!

I can sure identify and sympathize with the short bursts of sleep - last

night was the first night since surgery that I was able to sleep for 7

hours straight. I almost yelled for joy when I woke up at 6:00 this

morning! And sleep is sooo important for recovery - you'll just

have to do more short sessions, I guess. <G>

Anni

[Guest guest]

I would say that the best way to work on extension is to push yourself. You already know what feels uncomfortable when you stretch so you need to create that pulling sensation when you stretch the backs of your legs.

The question is really do you understand the importance of getting that leg completely straight?

If you have knees that don't extend fully, this causes you to bend over to walk at your low back. This will create, lead to or increase low back pain! You don't need that and it's preventable. So really work on your stretching to get those legs as straight as possible.

The splints the MD has you using are uncomfortable but if you can push yourself to get the extension you won't have to use them. A couple of exercises you can do to stretch the back of the knee into extesion:

http://exrx.net/Stretches/Hamstrings/LyingTowel.html

http://exrx.net/Stretches/Gastrocnemius/Step.html

Alisa - Moderator

[Guest guest]

Hi Melisa,

Thanks for the links, but I'm already doing both of these along with

quad exercises and the laying on my stomach with my knees and lower

legs hanging off the bed for 10-minutes. It's just the retainers are

so damn uncomfortable to sleep in that I'm losing sleep.

Best Regards,

Alan B.

P.S. I'm now at -2 and -3 so I'm nearly there.

-- In Joint Replacement , " Bodyphysics "

<bodyphysics@...> wrote:

>

>

> I would say that the best way to work on extension is to push yourself.

> You already know what feels uncomfortable when you stretch so you need

> to create that pulling sensation when you stretch the backs of your

> legs.

>

> The question is really do you understand the importance of getting that

> leg completely straight?

>

> If you have knees that don't extend fully, this causes you to bend over

> to walk at your low back. This will create, lead to or increase low

> back pain! You don't need that and it's preventable. So really work on

> your stretching to get those legs as straight as possible.

>

> The splints the MD has you using are uncomfortable but if you can push

> yourself to get the extension you won't have to use them. A couple of

> exercises you can do to stretch the back of the knee into extesion:

>

> http://exrx.net/Stretches/Hamstrings/LyingTowel.html

> <http://exrx.net/Stretches/Hamstrings/LyingTowel.html>

>

> http://exrx.net/Stretches/Gastrocnemius/Step.html

> <http://exrx.net/Stretches/Gastrocnemius/Step.html>

>

> Alisa - Moderator

>