My reconstructed knee clicks and swells after physio. Should I worry?

Why reconstructed knees click

After surgery, the tissues around the kneecap, scar tissue near the small incisions and the tendons around the knee can all move over each other with a click or snap. Weak quadriceps muscles can also let the kneecap track less smoothly. Clicking without pain or swelling is usually harmless and often fades as strength returns.

Swelling as a load signal

The knee often swells a little after a step up in training, such as the first runs, jumping drills or a long day on your feet. This is a sign the joint was loaded more than it was ready for, not usually that something has broken.

A useful rule in rehabilitation is to check the knee the morning after a session. If it is more swollen or stiffer than the day before, ease back for a few days and then progress more gradually. In the Doha heat, dehydration and long sessions outdoors can make this worse, so train in cooler hours or indoors.

Warning signs that need review

• A new pop with swelling, especially after a twist
• The knee giving way or feeling loose again
• Locking, catching or a sharp pain on one side of the joint
• Swelling that keeps returning or does not settle in a few days
• Redness, warmth or fever, which can mean infection
• A painful, swollen calf

What happens at a review

At Aman Hospital, Dr. Gelber examines the stability of the graft, the meniscus and the kneecap, and looks at your rehabilitation load. An MRI is sometimes needed to look for a new meniscus tear or graft injury. Often the answer is an adjustment to the training programme rather than further treatment.