Abstract
A 53-year-old patient seen 13 days post medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction was seen for student physical therapy treatment for 11 sessions over 6 weeks at an outpatient orthopedic clinic under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The patient was evaluated at the initial encounter with Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-12, Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale, Manual Muscle testing of the right knee and hip, Goniometry of the right knee, Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire Physical Activity Scale, Patient Specific Functional Scale, and Global Rate of Change. A plan of care was established to address right knee pain, range of motion, and strength impairments of the right knee and hip which led to activity limitations of walking, negotiating stairs, squatting to the floor during activities of daily living, and participation restrictions of driving and hiking. The main goals for the patient were return to ambulation and stair navigation without an assistive device, return to driving, decrease pain, improve range of motion and strength, and return to hiking. The main interventions used were manual therapy, task-specific training, therapeutic exercise including functional exercises, and patient education. The patient achieved the following goals: decreased pain, increased range of motion, ability to walk > 10 minutes without an assistive device, independent in-home stair navigation without an assistive device, perform activities of daily living with few limitations from symptoms, and return to driving. The patient was discharged to continue skilled outpatient physical therapy with another therapist.