Knee Extend Recovery System

KNEE EXTEND RECOVERY SYSTEM Consult with your Doctor or Physical Therapist in advance of incorporating the Knee Extend Recovery System into your rehabilitation plan.  Knee Extend Recovery System is a therapeutic device specifically developed to assist with knee extension recovery after a surgical procedure. It is also functionally designed to allow a physical therapist and/or patient to use the device with minimal pain or discomfort.  Knee Extend Recovery System has a number of components and design features, each with specific benefits, that are built into or work in cooperation with each other.  Knee Extend Recovery System is centered around the Therapeutic Weight Case (TWC), which contains a lid, an enclosed open-topped rigid container with integrated strap clips and weight adjustment pockets on the outside periphery of the case.  Accompanying and working in cooperation with the Therapeutic Weight Case are two comfort straps with double cinch adjustability, 4 silicone rubber coated 2lb steel weights, that can be placed in the external weight adjustment pockets on the outside of the TWC, and a half moon flexible support cushion, which is placed between the back of the knee and the top of the TWC during the rehabilitation exercise. THERAPEUTIC WEIGHT CASE (TWC) GENERAL DIMENSIONS The TWC dimensions are  10”L x 8”W x 6”H.  RIGID LID SUPPORT The TWC has a lid with a zipper that goes 270 degrees around the top.  The lid has a rigid insert placed inside a pocket in the fabric.  The rigid lid support is critical to the flexing of the leg muscles and the extension of the knee joint, providing resistance against the downward force during extension.    OPEN-TOPPED RIGID CONTAINER Inside the TWC is an open topped plastic container 10”L x 8”W x 6”H with a ½” lip around the open top circumference.  The lip of the top circumference allows for the rigid lid to remain stiff against the leg when downward pressure is placed against the lid.  The extended lip provides some assurance that the rigid lid will remain aligned with the rigid container, regardless of some slight shifting of the lid or container during a rehabilitation session.  Other container types can be used, but a predominant feature of the rigid container is to provide a constant static resistance against the downward force of the knee when flexing the leg muscles and extending or straightening the knee joint. Another critical feature of the Open-Topped Container is for initial weight (Wo) placement.  While the TWC has two areas that are designed for carrying weight, the inside of the rigid container is an open and clear space that allows for small handheld weights or other objects to be placed inside at the onset of a therapeutic session.  We refer to this as the Initial Weight (Wo).  Depending on the user’s progress in their recovery or treatment, this area can be left empty or if further along the healing path, weight can be placed into the container before use.  FOUR 2LB SILICONE COATED STEEL WEIGHTS AND TWC WEIGHT POCKETS The second area designed to hold weight are the four weight pockets located on the outside of the TWC.  The pockets are equally spaced with two pockets on each side of the TWC. The purpose of the four weight pockets is to allow the user to increase Wo by 2lb increments after the TWC is positioned on their leg utilizing the adjustable leg straps.  Wo may be zero, no weight in the rigid container or the appropriate weight for any individual at any stage of rehabilitation.  Gradually, the individual can easily add additional weight during the therapeutic session, as desired, with no assistance required and without removing the device.  During a therapeutic session, the ability to add weight incrementally is imperative to maximizing the stretch and strengthening in the moment during the exercise.  Four high density silicone rubber coated steel bars, each weighing 2lbs +/- 0.1lbs , that fit perfectly into the TWC weight pockets, are included with the device.  While stretching, the user can easily place one, two, three or four weights into the pockets to add an additional 8 lbs of resistance during any therapeutic session, without removing the Therapeutic Weight Case.  ADJUSTABLE LEG STRAPS On the outside of the TWC, there are four side release plastic buckle clips positioned at the end of each side of the 10” Length.  When each leg strap is engaged into the 1st buckle clip, placed over the leg, and engaged into the 2nd buckle clip, they are positioned approximately 2-3 inches above and below the average sized knee.  The two leg straps are constructed with padding to provide comfort against the top of the user’s leg.  One strap is positioned over the thigh and one strap is positioned over the shin.  The two leg straps are also constructed with cinch straps at each buckle clip location for slow and symmetrical tightening of the straps, carefully pulling the TWC up against the back of the leg and knee.  HALF MOON COMFORT FLEX CUSHION Another feature to provide additional comfort and a more gradual approach to extending the knee is our proprietary Half Moon Comfort Flex Cushion.  Our cushion has been contoured to fit under the knee when placed on top of the TWC.  When the knee is extended, our Half-Moon cushion is supported by the top of the TWC providing immediate resistance to the extending knee. The Half-Moon cushion is made with a medium-fast response foam material.  Our foam responds slowly to the downward force of the flexing knee and recovers quickly, ready for subsequent use.  Repeated extension is important to the knee strengthening and recovery. Therapeutic Options: Starting Weight (Wo) – This does not include the net weight of the TWC but refers to the weight placed into the TWC before putting on the device. Half Moon Comfort Flex Cushion - The use of the Half-Moon memory foam comfort cushion is to alleviate the downward stretching momentum.  Depending on patient need, the cushion can be used all the time, only at the beginning of a therapeutic treatment, added during treatment and/or used at the moment of incremental weight advancement. Incremental Weight Pockets – These can be used as the patient advances in treatment.  The pockets and specific steel 2 lb weights offer the opportunity to increase gradually the starting weight by an additional 8 lbs during any therapeutic session, Wo +8.  The Knee Extend Recovery System provides a variety of options for each user to consider when customizing the appropriate therapy plan for knee extension and rehabilitation.  Consult with your Doctor or Physical Therapist in advance of incorporating the Knee Extend Recovery System into your rehabilitation plan.