The rising number of knee ligament injuries which are subsequently surgically reconstructed require special rehabilitation programs. Casting is followed by a knee brace with careful attention paid to restricting full extension. A complete rehabilitation program must include provisions for strengthening knee muscles without placing excess stress on the surgical repair. This program must be coupled with a gradual increase in weight bearing and rigorous control of knee position to yield the optimal result.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1983;5(3):121-126.

To evaluate and treat knee problems, it is important to have an understanding of the functional anatomy of the structures about the knee joint. Injuries involving the musculature that insert or originate about the knee can cause pain leading to loss of function. The gastrocnemius muscle, primarily a plantarftexor of the ankle; is also a flexor of the knee joint due to its origin just above the lateral and medial femoral condyles on the posterior surface of the femur.' The following case report is of a strain to the medial head of the gastrocnemius which resulted in pain located at the posteriormedial region of the knee. A differential test to distinguish between a lesion of the gastrocnemius and the posterior capsule of the knee is presented.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1983;5(3):132-133.

Neural and muscular factors contributing to the short duration tension-developing capacity of muscle are reviewed. Among the neural factors discussed are pyramidal tract activity, and the order, extent, frequency, and synchrony of motor unit recruitment. Muscular factors included within the review are muscle size, fiber type, and fiber number. Alterations in neural and muscular factors that accompany training are also presented as are the interactions between them.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1983;5(3):139-147.