Anytime you change direction or stop suddenly, you’re at risk of spraining one of the ligaments in your knee. You’re more likely to end up searching for knee sprain recovery if you play sports. People with physical jobs also have a greater risk of a knee sprain. 

Knee sprains are most common in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), but they can occur in the other three knee ligaments, too. If you have developed an ACL sprain, you aren’t alone. Medical researchers report that up to 200,000 ACL injuries occur in the U.S. every year. 

There are many ways that physical therapists can help during your knee sprain recovery. These medical specialists can help reduce your pain, swelling and other symptoms. They can also offer you tips intended to help reduce how long your recovery takes. 

These three tips can help decrease knee sprain recovery times:

1. Rest at the right times — The first few days after you sprain your knee are typically a time for you to rest. Doing so allows your body to bring its internal healing processes to bear on your knee. However, rest can also be important during the remainder of your recovery process. A physical therapist can help you determine when and how much you should rest your knee as it recovers, which can help your injury heal faster. 

2. Get moving as soon as possible — Rest can be good for your knee initially, but you shouldn’t stay still for too long either. The reason? Prolonged inactivity can lead to pain, muscle weakness and greater joint stiffness. Your physical therapist can help you determine when you can start moving without impacting your healing. In addition, they can show you how to do specific therapeutic exercises designed to strengthen your knee and increase its mobility. 

3. Follow your recovery plan closely — Between your doctor and your physical therapist, you’ll likely have a detailed recovery plan for your knee. The more closely you follow this plan, the more likely you are to recover quickly. However, not following your plan carefully can result in an extended recovery period. 

Find effective knee sprain recovery services at Rehab Access

Keen to find the most effective recovery services for your knee sprain? You can find just what you’re looking for at Rehab Access Physical Therapy. Our team has the training and experience to identify knee sprains and assess their severity. Furthermore, we offer free screenings that can help you get started with your recovery. Our physical therapists can even build you a recovery plan that’s unique to your injury and needs. 

Contact our team today for more information about how we can treat knee injuries or to schedule an initial appointment to start treating your injury.