ACL, Knee Replacement, Hip Replacement App | Curovate Developed by a PT

You can return to sports at the earliest at 9 months after your ACL surgery or injury as long as you meet the criteria for returning to sports. In the past healthcare providers were telling patients that they could return to sports after 6 months. However, research shows that ACL reinjury or retear rates are the highest between 6 to 9 months after ACL surgery. Therefore the best advice for returning to sports has changed to at least 9 months after ACL surgery or injury. The reason you need to wait at least 9 months is to reduce your chances of reinjuring your ACL.

There are also very specific criteria that must be met before you return to playing sports after ACL surgery or injury. Before your return to sports you must have achieved the following:

a) Equal knee range of motion compared to your uninjured knee
b) Equal or better strength in your quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes compared to your uninjured leg
c) The ability to jog at least 20 minutes continuously without pain and swelling in your knee
d) The ability to jump in multiple directions with both legs and with your surgical or injured leg
e) The ability to jump equal height and distance when compared to your uninjured leg
f) The ability to do all of your sport specific movements, jumps, sprints and changes in direction with good form and no pain or discomfort

There are also some additional criteria for returning to sport after an ACL surgery which you can read about on our BLOG - When can I return to sport after ACL injury or surgery | Curovate

This is the most common question people have in the first few weeks and months after an ACL surgery. In most cases people do not tear their ACL graft but this is a very real fear after surgery. Most of the time people are worried about doing something wrong after their ACL surgery. In many cases people have endured a traumatic knee injury that caused the ACL tear and then they had to endure a surgery which caused additional pain, swelling and a loss of their normal movement. After all of this the last thing anyone wants is to have to go through all of that again! This is why people are scared of reinjuring their ACL. In most cases unless you had a traumatic fall or injury you likely did not retear your ACL. Here are some signs that you should look for after ACL surgery to determine if you should be assessed by a healthcare provider for a possible ACL graft injury or ACL retear.

a) Your knee feeling unstable again as it may have felt when you first tore your ACL
b) Your knee giving out with simple everyday activities
c) A sudden increase in your pain
d) A loud popping sound that is also associated with pain and swelling
e) A significant amount of increased swelling in your knee

This is not to say that it is not possible to retear your ACL but that in most cases you can figure out if you are likely to have torn your ACL graft or not by considering the signs listed above.

Learn about all of the signs and symptoms of an ACL graft tear on our BLOG -
Did I retear my ACL graft after surgery? | Curovate

Watch this short VLOG about ACL reinjury - Did I retear my ACL?

Yes! In the past healthcare providers, including physical therapists like myself, used to say that the ACL can not heal. However, more recent research has shown that this is not true! The ACL actually has the capabilities to heal without surgery. There are research cases where people with ACL tears show signs of healing. Previously the advice to most people with partial ACL tears was to surgically reconstruct the ACL but we now know that this may not be necessary for everyone. Even when we first wrote our blog on this topic of ACL partial tear healing on August 23, 2021 we stated that a “partial ACL tear will not heal.” We now know that a partial ACL tear can heal without surgery. Keep in mind that a partial ACL tear does not heal for everyone. Also many people who have a partial ACL tear may eventually have a complete tear of their ACL. Surgery may be necessary for many people with ACL partial and ACL complete tears. However, completing a full rehabilitation program, such as the one you will find in the Curovate app, for ACL non surgical rehabilitation is now possible and may result in people recovering after ACL partial tears without surgery. , though the transition does limit overflow.

There are also different grades of ACL partial tears. You can learn more by reading our BLOG -
Will my partial ACL tear heal without surgery? | Curovate

Your knee may make a lot of sounds and clicking after ACL surgery and in most cases this is normal. After ACL surgery your knee will be very swollen and you will not be able to fully straighten and bend your knee. As you work on bending and straightening your knee, or as you do your ACL recovery exercises, or just move around with your crutches you may hear popping and clicking in your knee. All of this is normal and nothing to worry about. Some of the sounds in your knee are because of the swelling and some are because you are attempting to bend your knee after surgery. If there is a sound or pop and it is associated with a fall or another traumatic injury after ACL surgery then this needs to be carefully examined by a healthcare provider. If your knee is making sounds just because of your normal movement then you can simply ignore the sounds.

You can learn more about how the patellofemoral joint, the joint between your thigh bone and kneecap, can make weird sounds after ACL surgery by watching our VLOG -
Video: Why is my knee making weird sounds after ACL surgery? Is a grinding sound normal after ACL surgery?

After an ACL surgery there are some critical knee range of motion or knee bending and knee straightening goals you should achieve each week after surgery. The reason these goals are so important is because the longer it has been after your ACL surgery the harder it is to increase your knee range of motion. The information below provides some general guidelines and you should confirm with your healthcare provider if this is appropriate for your specific ACL surgery. In some cases your orthopedic surgeon or your physical therapist may tell you NOT to bend your knee past a certain point for a certain number of weeks. Please listen to this advice as it is very likely based on exactly the surgical procedure you had in which case these range of motion goals would not apply to you. Please keep in mind when it says “week 1” this means the range of motion goal at the end of week 1 or 7 days after surgery.

Week 1 after ACL surgery - knee range of motion goals
Knee straightening or knee extension - 0 degrees
Knee bending or flexion - 90 degrees

Week 2 after ACL surgery - knee range of motion goals
Knee straightening or knee extension - 0 degrees
Knee bending or flexion - 110 degrees

Week 3 after ACL surgery - knee range of motion goals

Knee straightening or knee extension - 0 degrees
Knee bending or flexion - 120 degrees

Week 4 after ACL surgery - knee range of motion goals

Knee straightening or knee extension - 0 degrees or more
Knee bending or flexion - 140 degrees

Week 8 after ACL surgery - knee range of motion goals

Knee straightening or knee extension - 0 degrees or more depending on how much movement your knee had before surgery
Knee bending or flexion - 140 degrees or more depending on how much movement your knee had before surgery

Week 12 after ACL surgery - knee range of motion goals

Knee straightening or knee extension - 0 degrees or more depending on how much movement your knee had before surgery and equal to your uninjured knee
Knee bending or flexion - 140 degrees or more depending on how much movement your knee had before surgery and equal to your uninjured knee
Knee range of motion can be easily measured and tracked through the Curovate app. Learn how by watching this VLOG - How to measure your knee range of motion using Curovate

To learn more about ACL recovery timeline read this BLOG -
ACL surgery recovery time 101: Your ACL surgery recovery timeline

Loose - your knee replacement being loose is very rare and is unlikely based on this type of surgery. However, many people feel that their knee is loose after surgery. A big part of this is that the new knee implant will not feel like your natural knee. It takes your body time before the new knee implant feels normal in your body. The best thing to do to address this feeling is give it time. Typically, the knee implant starts to feel more normal and the feeling of looseness goes away. About 1.2-1.8% of all people who have a knee replacement actually end up with a loose knee implant. When this happens people usually feel their knee giving out, their knee pain is increasing instead of getting better, and there is more swelling, irritation and a loss of the ability to bend and straighten their knee. The risk factors are: being younger, being heavier, being male and having a lot of knee bending. If you think that you have the symptoms of your knee implant being loose you should be assessed by your surgeon.

To learn more about why your knee may feel loose after a knee replacement read our BLOG -
Why does my knee replacement feel loose?

Weird- the knee will feel weird for quite some time after a knee replacement. There was a lot done to your knee to put in the new implant. The process of the surgery and the fact that you now have a new implant in your knee will make your knee feel weird. This feeling may last quite some time and this is normal. The best solution is to continue to do your regular daily activities within your tolerance, daily knee replacement exercises which you can find in our Curovate app and daily knee range of motion exercises. All of this will ensure that the knee eventually does not feel weird but it may take 8-12 weeks before your knee starts to feel closer to your natural knee.

Heavy- There is a really good reason for your new knee implant to feel heavier after your knee replacement, because it is! The new knee implant is typically 0.6 pounds heavier than your natural knee. This may not seem like a big difference but it is enough for people to be able to perceive a difference. So if your knee feels heavier it is because it is slightly heavier. The best solution for this sensation is regular physical activity, daily rehabilitation exercises including strengthening and knee range of motion. It is very likely that over time you will not notice a difference in the weight of your knee.

To learn more about why a new knee feels heavier read our BLOG -
Why does my knee feel heavier after a knee replacement?

There are a number of signs and symptoms that indicate that you may need a knee replacement. A sign is something that can be assessed by a person such as a healthcare provider, a family member or the individual. A symptom is something that is experienced by the person.

Signs - severe osteoarthritis on X-ray, changes in how a person completes their daily activities, swelling of the joint, change is shape and size of the joint, sounds coming from the joint with bending and straightening, loss of motion of knee bending and straightening, an overall reduction in physical activity.

Symptoms - pain, particular pain that keep the person up at night, inability to normally bend and straighten the knee, the knee “giving out,” not trusting the knee for daily life activities such as walking and using the stairs

There is no single sign or symptom that can indicate that you need a knee replacement. Most people have a number of signs and symptoms that together indicate that a knee replacement may be necessary. The decision to undergo a knee replacement is personal and it is determined by you and how much your knee is impacting your life. Some people are willing to live with a loss of normal knee function and others are not.

There are many other reasons that you may need a knee replacement which you can learn about by reading this BLOG -
How do I know when I need a knee replacement?

The short answer is no! With advancing age it can be normal to have a certain degree of knee osteoarthritis. Just the presence of knee osteoarthritis alone is not enough to require a knee replacement. Pain is one of the major symptoms that leads people to get a knee replacement. So what should you do if you have knee osteoarthritis but no knee pain? Live your life! Normal daily physical activity is important to make sure that the joint stays as healthy as possible. Typically when people stop their normal physical activity the knee osteoarthritis can get worse. For some people their body weight may be a contributing factor to their knee osteoarthritis worsening. If this is true for you try to reduce your overall weight and this can help to make sure that you stay pain free even with knee osteoarthritis. The next most important thing to do is exercise! Within the Curovate app we have a specific program for people with knee osteoarthritis. Simply download the Curovate app from any of the links on this website and start your daily exercises to make sure that your knee osteoarthritis does not result in knee pain.

Learn about why the presence of knee osteoarthritis does not mean that you need a knee replacement in this BLOG -
My surgeon said I have knee osteoarthritis but I don’t have pain. Do I need a knee replacement?

98% of people who had a knee replacement did return to work according to a research study that interviewed 494 people who had undergone a knee replacement. This same study found that on average it took people 9 weeks to return to work after a knee replacement. The 3 main factors that determined the return to work were: age, motivation and the type of job they were returning to. People who were younger were able to return to work sooner. People who described themselves as very motivated and had a sense of urgency to return back to work were more likely to return to work earlier. And lastly, if a job was classified as sedentary, people were able to return to work sooner than if their job required heavy lifting and carrying.

To learn about the various factors that determine if a person can return back to work after a knee replacement read our BLOG - Can I return to work after a knee replacement? When can I return to work after a knee replacement?

After a knee replacement surgery there are some critical knee range of motion or knee bending and knee straightening goals you should achieve each week after surgery. The reason these goals are so important is because the longer it has been after your knee replacement the harder it is to increase your knee range of motion. The information below provides some general guidelines and you should confirm with your healthcare provider if this is appropriate for your specific knee replacement recovery. In some cases your orthopedic surgeon or your physical therapist may tell you NOT to bend your knee past a certain point for a certain number of weeks. Please listen to this advice as it is very likely based on exactly the surgical procedure you had in which case these range of motion goals would not apply to you. Please keep in mind when it says “week 1” this means the range of motion goal at the end of week 1 or 7 days after surgery.

Week 1 after knee replacement - knee range of motion goals
Knee straightening or knee extension - 0 degrees
Knee bending or flexion - 70 degrees

Week 2 after knee replacement - knee range of motion goals
Knee straightening or knee extension - 0 degrees
Knee bending or flexion - 80 degrees

Week 3 after knee replacement - knee range of motion goals

Knee straightening or knee extension - 0 degrees
Knee bending or flexion - 90 degrees

Week 4 after knee replacement - knee range of motion goals

Knee straightening or knee extension - 0 degrees or more
Knee bending or flexion - 110 degrees

Week 8 after knee replacement - knee range of motion goals

Week 12 after knee replacement - knee range of motion goals

Knee straightening or knee extension - 0 degrees or more depending on how much movement your knee had before surgery and the type of knee implant used
Knee bending or flexion - 125 degrees or more depending on how far your knee bent before your surgery and the type of knee implant used
Knee range of motion can be easily measured and tracked through the Curovate app. Learn how by watching this VLOG - How to measure your knee range of motion using Curovate

To learn more about your knee replacement recovery timeline read this BLOG
What is the recovery timeline for a knee replacement? | Curovate

Absolutely! This is why we created the option for knee and hip strengthening. We first started with surgery and injury options but we kept getting messages from people asking for safe and effective exercises for knee and hip strengthening. This option, called “knee and hip strengthening,” is specifically for people who have not had surgery or injury but would like to increase their strength around their knee or hip joints. Think of this as a way to prevent future problems while also building strength, stability and balance. The knee and hip strengthening option within the Curovate app was created by physical therapists. Before you start using this app you will be asked if you can do some specific exercises. Your answers to these questions will determine what types of exercises you are given through the app. If you are not sure if a particular exercise is appropriate for you simply use our in-app chat with a physical therapist to ask a question.

In some cases, with proper physical therapy guidance, people who have had ACL surgery a year or more prior to finding our app, the knee and hip strengthening may be the best option. The reason for this is that many people at this point have minimal pain, good knee range of motion and can do their daily activities fairly well. However, they do notice weakness and poor balance in their surgical leg. This can happen and if it does you likely need to do more strengthening and balance training. The knee and hip strengthening option may be ideal for people in this situation. If you have had an ACL surgery and you are not sure if you should use the ACL option or the knee and hip strengthening option simply use our in-app chat and ask a physical therapist for advice.

If your knee replacement was over a year ago and you still have weakness of the muscles around your knee you may benefit from a daily structured exercise program. This is exactly what you will receive if you select the knee and hip strengthening option. A year after a knee replacement you may not have significant pain and you may have reasonable knee range of motion but you may struggle with poor strength in your surgical knee. To strengthen the muscles around your knee the knee and hip strengthening option may be ideal for you. If you are unsure if the knee and hip strengthening option will help you send our physical therapist a message through the in-app chat.

When you choose the knee and hip strengthening option you will be asked a series of exercise questions. You will see 3 exercise videos and the app will ask you if you can manage to do all 3 of the exercises. If you answer “No” to any of the exercises then please select “No.” If all 3 exercises are manageable for you select “Yes” and you will be shown 3 more exercise videos and you will be asked if you can manage these 3 exercises. Once you select “No” you will be started in a specific exercise stage within the app. There is a chance that even with these questions the stage you are starting on is not the correct stage for you. So how do you know if the stage is correct for you?

Go to the stage goals. The goals are listed at the top of each stage. Check if the goals are all reasonable for your current abilities. If they are too challenging then you should move to an earlier stage. If they are too easy you should move ahead to a future stage. On the home screen select “Past Stages” or “Next Stages” and review the goals of the next stage to determine if this is appropriate for you.

We have also created a short video to show you how to select the correct stage for your knee and hip strengthening on this VLOG -At what stage in the app should I start my recovery? | Curovate

For people who have had a knee or hip injury or surgery they should try their best to complete their physical therapy exercises daily. However, if you have not had surgery or injury and you are simply trying to improve your strength then we recommend completing the in-app knee and hip strengthening exercises 3 times per week. This may not be possible every week but try to make this a goal. The reason for this is that the muscles need continuous strengthening to improve your daily life function and activities. If 3 times a week is not possible try twice per week and if even this is a challenge even once per week is beneficial. The key is that you try to integrate these exercises into your life to improve your knee and hip strength and function. We have structured the app to make the exercises as manageable as possible but we know that people struggle with time when they are trying to fit in exercising. This is why we also added a “Not enough time” button within the app. This will allow you to complete the highest priority exercises when you do not have the time to complete all of the exercises. Some exercise is always better than no exercise. Also reach out to us in the in-app chat and tell us about your challenges with staying consistent with your exercises and we will suggest strategies to help.

Learn some practical tips to stay consistent with your exercises by reading this BLOG -Become more consistent with your exercise program using Curovate.

Many people who have knee osteoarthritis say that they can tell when it is going to rain or they feel more pain when it does rain. There are still many debates about how or if rain can impact knee osteoarthritis pain and much of this is still not proven. The factors that are thought to impact knee pain are atmospheric pressure, cold weather, humidity and your mood. Before it rains and when it rains there is a change in the pressure in the air also called atmospheric pressure. When there is damage to cartilage in the knee, as is the case with osteoarthritis, pressure sensitive nerves may be able to detect changes in atmospheric pressure and this may be perceived as pain. Secondly, colder weather makes the synovial fluid, this is the normal joint fluid in the knee, more viscous and this may contribute to knee pain. Humidity in the air may cause the damaged areas around the knee to expand, thus putting pressure around the joint which may decrease the overall space in the joint and cause someone to feel pain. Lastly, people move less when it is raining outside and this can impact their mood. Less movement can also lead to increased pain when someone has knee osteoarthritis. Remember that not everyone who has knee osteoarthritis has more pain when it rains and that exercise and movement are protective against feeling pain when it rains. So the best thing to do on a rainy day is walk around inside, exercise and get moving even if you can’t go outside.

Learn more about what we know and what we don’t know about how rain can change how much knee pain you feel by reading our BLOG - Why does my knee hurt when it’s about to rain? | Curovate

Osteoarthritis takes years to develop and it involves gradual and progressive damage to various joint structures. The structures that are involved are the cartilage, the bone,and the synovial fluid or fluid in the joint. There are some symptoms that you should be aware of to determine if you have knee osteoarthritis:

a) Pain in the knee and particularly pain at night. This pain can occur after long periods of activity, after long periods of sitting and first thing in the morning.
b) Swelling around the knee
c) Stiffness of the knee particularly in the morning
d) Reduced mobility or movement of the knee
e) Weakness of the muscles around the knee
f) Knee giving out with regular physical activity

Curovate provides daily exercises specifically for people with knee osteoarthritis. Simply download the app from this website and select “knee osteoarthritis” to start addressing your knee pain. To learn about some treatment options for knee osteoarthritis read this BLOG - What is osteoarthritis? | Curovate

Not necessarily! There are various degrees or grades of knee osteoarthritis and based on your age some amount of knee osteoarthritis may be expected and normal. People with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis do not require a knee replacement. Some people with severe knee osteoarthritis do require a knee replacement. Simply having severe knee osteoarthritis is not enough to warrant a knee replacement. The person also has to have significant pain and limited function in their daily life, possibly also pain at night that impacts their ability to sleep and a loss of strength and mobility of their knee joint. Remember that a number of signs and symptoms have to be present to require a knee replacement. Exercise, walking and stationary biking are all very helpful in reducing pain, improving mobility and increasing your strength with knee osteoarthritis. If you have knee osteoarthritis your first step should be to start a structured daily exercise program. Curovate provides exactly that! Download the Curovate app from the links on this website and select “knee osteoarthritis.” The app will then ask you some basic questions about exercises you are able to do. Once you answer these simple questions you will be started in a specific stage of exercises and you will progress to more challenging exercises weekly.

The final decision about requiring a knee replacement should be a joint decision made by your healthcare providers and yourself.

Read more about osteoarthritis and knee replacement on this BLOG - My surgeon said I have knee osteoarthritis but I don’t have pain. Do I need a knee replacement? | Curovate

The short answer to these questions is YES! If you have knee osteoarthritis you may have pain and you may have pain even when you exercise. A certain amount of pain while you exercise is safe and often very normal. Many people with knee osteoarthritis can not exercise without pain. Exercise is critical to improve the function, movement and strength around the knee joint. However, you will not be pain free when you do your daily exercise. If you have pain during exercise but the pain subsides once you have completed your exercises this is not a concern. Even if you need to walk around or move your knee after exercise to settle down the pain this is also normal. For some people it is helpful to use ice or heat on their knee after exercise and this settles down the knee pain. All of this is acceptable and normal and it will also get better with time. If the pain increases with exercise and lasts for several hours, the rest of the day and or the next day then you should see a healthcare provider and discuss this with them.

Walking is an excellent exercise for knee osteoarthritis. In most cases walking is strongly recommended for people who have knee osteoarthritis. One of the worst things you can do is stop walking completely once you are diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. The health of a joint which includes the bone, cartilage, synovial fluid, muscles and tendons depends on regular movement. Walking is an excellent movement for the knee joint. You may find that initially there is an upper limit to how much you can walk but there is very likely a reasonable amount of walking that you can manage daily in several shorter sessions. The key message is that walking is recommended for people with knee osteoarthritis.

Learn more about exercise and osteoarthritis by reading this BLOG - Is it safe for me to exercise if I have knee osteoarthritis or hip osteoarthritis? But I have pain due to my osteoarthritis. Why should I exercise?

Osteoarthritis is sometimes described as wear and tear of cartilage but it is much more than that. Osteoarthritis involves the cartilage, bone, and synovial fluid around the knee. There is some damage to all of these structures and this is referred to as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can be mild, moderate or severe. This is a grade of how much damage there is to the joint surfaces. Osteoarthritis can result in pain, swelling, a loss of normal motion of the knee joint and a loss of strength around the joint. For some people who have knee osteoarthritis they feel like their knee is going to “give out” and they say that they “can’t trust their knee.”

Learn more about what exactly osteoarthritis is by reading this BLOG - What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis definition | Curovate

The most common types of hip replacements are:

a) Anterior approach
b) Posterior approach
c) Lateral approach

This simply means if the surgeon did the surgery from the front, the back or the side of your hip. In many cases where the surgery was done will determine what restrictions you may have immediately after the surgery. Before or after your surgery your surgeon will provide you with some movement restrictions. This will specify the directions you are not allowed to move your hip after the surgery. Once you have a hip replacement it is important for you to know where your surgeon did your surgery and very specifically any directions you are not allowed to move your hip after surgery. Keep in mind that in some cases your surgeon may say “no hip precautions.” In this case there are no restrictions on your hip movements after surgery.

Within the Curovate app select the approach that was done for your surgery or select “no hip precautions” if your surgeon has not given you any movement restrictions after surgery. If you are not sure please speak to your surgeon as this will determine which exercises are safe for you after surgery and which exercises you should avoid.

Read all about what to expect after a hip replacement on our BLOG - What to expect after a total hip replacement surgery

Typically people who have had a hip replacement are given movement restrictions for 6 to 8 weeks. After 8 weeks it is very rare that a person with a hip replacement has to maintain any movement restrictions. In some cases people who have a hip replacement are not given any movement restrictions after surgery. This is normal and it simply means that you can move your hip in all directions within your pain tolerance. In rare cases some people are given hip movement restrictions for more than 8 weeks. Please speak directly to your surgeon or healthcare provider and make sure you understand exactly what movements you are not allowed to do and for how long. Do not go against the advice of your healthcare provider and follow the restrictions that you have been given.

Here are some typical recovery goals after a hip replacement on this BLOG - What to expect after total hip replacement

Typically between 2 to 6 weeks. This time frame is variable because it depends on how mobile and functional you were before your hip replacement. Some people need the walker only for a short time after a hip replacement and others may need it for longer. Most patients can usually stop using a walker by the end of their 2nd week. Also keep in mind that some people may be very healthy and mobile and may never require a walker or only require a walker when they are in the hospital. Ask your healthcare provider for specific advice about how long you will need to use a walker.

Learn all about how to safely use a walker on this VLOG - How to use your walker safely after knee replacement and hip replacement

Usually 6 weeks after a hip replacement but this varies depending on the surgical procedure you had, the movements restrictions you have been given after surgery and the pain medication you are using. Ask your healthcare provider when you are safe to drive. If you are taking any medication that makes you drowsy, dizzy or alters your mental state then you should not drive. If you have pain moving your leg from the accelerator to the break and you think this will impact your ability to react quickly when driving you should not start driving. In addition, if you still need assistance getting in and out of a car you should not start driving. Some people take longer than 6 weeks to start driving. Speak to your healthcare provider to ensure that you are safe to start driving after a hip replacement.

The hip joint consists of a ball and socket joint. A hip replacement involves replacing both the ball and part of the socket of your hip with artificial implants. There can be a variety of materials used for the implants. The replacement involves removing the ball and part of your socket and replacing both surfaces of the joint. The area of joint damage and wear is on both the ball and socket which is why it is necessary to replace both surfaces.

Learn more about the recovery timeline after a hip replacement by reading this BLOG - What to expect after total hip replacement

Once you download the Curovate app you will be started in a stage within the app. How did the app determine that this is the appropriate stage for you? In most cases the stage you are started on is based on your surgery date, injury date or the questions you answered about the exercises you are capable of doing. However, this may not be the correct stage for you. Start by selecting the “Play” button and you will see the goals for that stage. If these goals seem reasonable for your current abilities then this is the correct stage for you. If the goals are too hard go back to the home page and select a previous stage. For example if the app started you on stage 12 and you determine that the stage 12 goals are too challenging open stage 11 and review the goals for this stage. You will continue to go back stages until the goals match closely with your current abilities. If the goals are too easy you would go ahead to “Next Stages” and review the goals for future stages to determine if they are more appropriate for you. When you have found the stage within the app that has the appropriate goals you would start your recovery at this stage. Keep in mind that most stages have 7 days and then you progress to the next stage assuming that you meet all of the goals for that stage.

Here is a short VLOG to help you determine where you should start your recovery within the Curovate app - At what stage in the app should I start my recovery? | Curovate

The Curovate app has a function called “Measure my Knee,” that can measure your knee bending and straightening with just your phone. You do not need to buy any additional equipment or wearable to get this measurement. It works on iPhone and Android devices. Simply go to the “Profile” section of the app and you will see the “Measure Knee” option. Once you select this there will be video and audio instructions to show you how to measure your knee bending and knee straightening. Simply follow the video and audio instructions to get your knee flexion and knee extension range of motion. Within the app this process will take between 15 to 30 seconds to obtain both knee flexion and extension measurements. The only piece of equipment you will need will be a rolled up towel or a foam roller to put under your ankle for measuring knee extension. We recommend measuring while sitting on the ground and not on a bed or other soft surfaces. We also recommend measuring with the same device or phone each time.

To watch a detailed video of exactly how to measure your knee range of motion watch this VLOG - How to measure your knee range of motion using Curovate

In a published research study we examined how accurate our app was compared to a physical therapist measuring knee range of motion as well as how consistent the measurement was across various devices. In total we completed 80 measurements of knee flexion and extension with an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, Samsung S7 (Android device), iPad Pro and a physical therapist with 20 years of experience. This study determined that the correlation between all of these measures was 0.998 or better. This means that in the same position of knee flexion or extension all of these measurements correlated very well.

You can read all about our research study in our BLOG - How can I measure my knee range of motion at home after surgery or injury?

Curovate has a free 5 day trial. After 5 days the app requires a subscription. You can choose from a 1 Month subscription ($8.99 USD), Annual subscription ($45.99 USD), Premium Annual subscription which includes 4 Video PT sessions (174.99 USD), Premium Plus Annual subscription which includes 6 Video PT sessions ($249.99 USD), or a Total Care subscription which includes 10 Video PT sessions ($399.99 USD). Alternatively you can also choose to purchase single sessions of Video PT ($59.99 USD). All of the above prices will be charged in your local currency through the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Curovate does not handle or manage any of your financial information.

Please keep in mind that you are never subscribed unless you agree to subscribe. Simply downloading our app and utilizing it for the 5 day trial period does not mean you will be charged for a subscription. Our subscription is always an “opt-in.” Meaning that unless you choose to subscribe you will not be charged.

For more details of our subscription terms or our end user license agreement please review our Terms page on our website.

From the Home Page you will see other stages listed above and below the stage you are currently on. You can simply press “Play” for another stage and you can open another stage. Typically 3 stages are displayed at a time. If you are on stage 15 and you want to see stage 10 simply scroll up and press “Past Stages.” Then you can access stage 10 and review the goals and exercises for that stage. If you would like to see future stages simply scroll down and select “Next Stages” and you will see future stages.

Learn how to switch stages within the app by watching a short video and reading our BLOG - How to navigate your exercises using Curovate.

Not to worry this happens all the time! Let’s say you have had an ACL reconstruction and you selected patellar tendon graft but you meant to select hamstring tendon graft. Simply go to Profile and then select “My Protocols.” This will bring you back to the page where you can select the correct surgery or injury type. Once you have done this you will return to the home page and you will see that you are now on the correct recovery plan. At this point you can go back to “My Protocols” and either delete the previous incorrect selection or archive it.

Here are some simple video and written instructions for how to change your surgery or injury type in Curovate - How to manage your recovery protocols within Curovate.

Curovate has before surgery options for people who have had knee replacements, ACL reconstructions, and hip replacements. If you were using Curovate for your rehabilitation before surgery and you have now had surgery it is simple to switch to ACL, knee replacement or hip replacement. Simply go to “Profile” and then select “My Protocols.” This will bring you back to the Curovate injury or surgery selection page. Select your surgery and enter your surgery date. This will now start you on your recovery plan after surgery. If you go back to “My Protocols” you will see that all of your previous information and data are still saved within your before surgery protocol. Your information before and after surgery will be kept separate but within your Cruovate app account. You can choose to archive, delete or do nothing with your before surgery protocol. We strongly suggest that if you are scheduled for a surgery you start now by doing your preoperative or before surgery exercises to prepare you for your surgery.

Watch this short video to learn how to switch protocols within the app after you have had your surgery - How to manage your recovery protocols within Curovate.

Also read about the importance of prehab or preoperative rehabilitation in our BLOG - Pre ACL exercises: Pre ACL surgery exercises | Curovate

There are a great deal of exercises to complete every day after injury and surgery to recover! The time that it takes people to do these exercises is one of the reasons that people stop their rehabilitation exercises. Some people think “all or none.” Meaning they think that if I can’t do all of the necessary exercises there is no point doing any of them. This is absolutely not true. Some people see the amount of time that the exercises will take and this demotivates them and they become less likely to do any of their exercises. As a physical therapist I have seen this happen with many of my patients. In this case what I try to do is prioritize the most important exercises for that person to continue some of their daily rehabilitation exercises. We have also done this through the app. You will see that in each day of exercises there is an estimated time it can take to complete the exercises. Right under this estimate is a button that says “Not enough time.” If you are short on time you can simply press this button and the app will only show you the highest priority exercises. Instead of 60 minutes the app will reduce your exercises for that day to 15 minutes. This should allow you to be consistent with your daily recovery exercises.

The second reason we created this button is because I would often see patients complete 60 minutes of exercises on one day and then skip 2-3 days of exercises. In my opinion it is far more important that you do some exercises every day as opposed to all of the exercises infrequently. Once again the “Not enough time” button should help you stay consistent with your daily exercises and at least complete your highest priority exercises daily.

Deleting your Curovate account or uninstalling the Curovate app does not cancel your subscription. Cancellations and turning off auto pay are handled by iTune or the Google Play Store. Here are the instructions as provided by iTunes and Google Play for canceling an auto renewable subscription.

Apple

Android

We are always happy to hear feedback and learn how we can improve our app for people recovering from surgery or injury. Please email info@curovate.com to provide feedback.

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