Following the knee replacement surgery, the muscles, ligaments and other soft tissues around the knee suffers weakness due to the recent surgery trauma and restricted movement. This fragility has the potential to be persisting for prolonged time if proper rehab is not given. This can eventually lead to loss in functionality over time.
Physical therapy for knee replacement helps to:
Many people consistently follow the plan of going to physiotherapy 2–3 times per week in the beginning, then, they adhere to an organised systematic home plan which is personalized and specialised for exercises after knee replacement.
Usually, Physical therapy after knee replacement starts just after a few hours of the surgery. Its advisable to begin the therapy in the crucial 24-hour period post op for better results. Starting the therapy at this advanced stage provides essential benefits in healing and saves the knee from further stiffness after total knee replacement surgery.
Early rehab focuses on:
The healing, succeeding a knee replacement surgery often ensues a structures and efficient plan. It’s divided into phases and each phase aims ar spefific objectives. This gradual yet supportive programme equips the patient to slowly progress in the path of recovery. Each phase of physical therapy after knee replacement builds on the previous one, helping the patient move with safety, enhance strength and restore previous functionality without burdening the new joint.
This is the preliminary stage which greatly emphasises on waking the knee up gradually. The aim here is to better the blood circulation, avoid any complications (like blood clots), and start the basic movements soon. Safety of the patient is ensures at each step of the plan.
Key activities include:
During this stage, the goal of the therapy movements change towards restoring knee movement while protecting the healing tissues. The exercises are regulated and specific for movement goals. The results usually include a reduction of swelling and pain as well as building confidence in moving the knees and legs.
Goals during this phase include:
Common exercises include:
As time passes, there is a reduction in the ache and therapy is more enhanced and active. The movements become more complex to build back the previous mobility and are more strength-focused. This phase is very crucial because it acts as a bridge between the current movements and the real-life movement requirements. This transition happens slowly and securely and the end result usually is for the patient to be able to carry out daily functioning and walk longer distances and stand up from a chair.
Rehab during this stage typically includes:
The last and the final week of the therapy emphasised on prepping the knee to bear the demands of everyday life. Proper strength, stability and effective smooth movement patters are guided by the therapist to allow the patient to return back to their daily tasks without any hesitation or doubt.
Focus areas include:
Every knee replacement physical therapy program has some final outcomes:
Also Read: Physiotherapy For Back Pain ; Physiotherapy For Knee Pain
The right exercises after knee replacement play an extraordinary cameo in the restoration of motion, restore strength and safeguard the new knee joint during recovery. These curated list of exercises are most popularly listed in a structured plan for physical therapy for knee replacement program and are progressed gradually as per the patient’s pain threshold and mobility.
Ankle pumps are usually introduced immediately after knee replacement surgery. By moving the foot up and down in a controlled manner, this exercise improves blood circulation, reduces swelling, and lowers the risk of blood clots. It is safe to perform multiple times a day and plays a key role in early recovery.
Heel slides are one of the most important knee replacement exercises for restoring knee bending. Sliding the heel toward the body and then straightening the leg helps improve range of motion while keeping stress on the joint minimal. This exercise supports walking, sitting, and stair use as recovery progresses.
Quadriceps sets aim on stimulating the thigh muscles. The muscled of the thigh often go weak after after total knee replacement. Thus, focusing on building up the strength of the quadriceps while keeping the leg straight helps rebuild muscle control, improves knee stability, and supports safe walking and standing.
Raising the leg while keeping it straight is a tricky but very effective exercise for tightening the quadriceps without requiring knee movement. This makes it an ideal movement during early knee replacement recovery. Improving muscle endurance as well as supporting the leg alignment are only some of the benefits of this exercise. It also helps in long-term joint protection.
Knee bends help restore a fuller scope of knee movement as well as improve the flexibility of the knees. They can be performed anyhow-
lying down, sitting, or standing, depending on the phase of recovery. These bends are also very crucial in getting more mobility for dialysis tasks like sitting and getting up from chairs and walking comfortably after physical therapy after knee replacement.
Bridging involves activating and lifting of the glute muscles. This helps in restoring force back into the hips and lower back. The stronger the hips, the lesser the strain on the knee joint. Thus, also improving the body stability. This exercise enhances balance and dat-to-day movements during later stages of knee replacement physical therapy.
Although comparatively, this is a tough exercise, however it is highly effective to boost flexibility and endurance. You do need to consult your therapist before doing it and only proceed with it if they quality you fit for it. Stationary cycling is an effective low-impact exercise. It has also shown to improve circulation without any extra burden on the joint. Cycling also helps patients regain confidence in movement after knee replacement surgery.
Also Read: Physiotherapy For Joint Pain ; Physiotherapy For Disc Burge
A lot of people generally require a 4–8 week plan of physical therapy after knee replacement, although, there are personal variations depending on the recovery progression, age, intensity and duration of exercises, muscle strength and overall health. Full recovery from total knee replacement can roughly take about a few months, even after the formal therapy has ended.
Although, little aches and pains are okay during healing but, sometimes, they may in fact be a way of your body communicating with you. This soreness could indicate a deeper issue. Hence, identifying these warning signs after knee replacement prematurely can help you avoid further complications. Please
Contact your physical therapist or any healthcare provider without any delay if you notice:
Early identification, care and communications allows your physical therapy after knee replacement to be safe and free of any difficulty.
It becomes very important to set personal goals for yourself in this recovery journey. When you know what can you expect in what time, it becomes so much more easier to aim and achieve them, thus building internal motivation as well as quantitatively measuring your healing. Here’s a list of expectations before starting physical therapy for knee replacement to help patients stay focused, realistic and consistent.
Before Physical Therapy
After Consistent Physical Therapy
Thus, people who are regular with their knee replacement physical therapy can see immense improvement with their rehabilitation.
Recovering well after knee replacement surgery is heavily correlated to having a consistent physiotherapy routine. Apart from that, smart movements and attending to your bodily needs becomes vital. Following healthy habits while undertaking physical therapy after knee replacement can lessen the rigidity and enhance strength and before long, you see yourself getting back to your daily activities without any discomfort or anxiety.
Practical Tips for Faster and Safer Knee Replacement Recovery
Strong muscle conditioning before surgery, often called pre-rehab, is also linked to better outcomes after total knee replacement, making post-surgery rehab smoother and more effective.
Do’s and Don’ts After Knee Replacement Surgery
Little steps go a long way in healing. These are some small lifestyle shifts and habits that can either slower or quicken your recovery. Do make sure to adhere to the do’s and avoid the don’t’s after knee replacement for long-term benefits.
Do’s During Knee Replacement Recovery
Don’ts During Knee Replacement Rehab
Physical therapy after knee replacement is a crucial step to bridge the gap after surgery and getting back to everyday life. It helps build early movement, slowly and safely and with consistent rehab, one can maintain a sustained wellbeing for their knees. With the right physical therapy for knee replacement, targeted exercises after knee replacement, and patient’s willingness, most people regain strength, confidence, and functionality after total knee replacement surgery.
Physical therapy for knee replacement includes an wide variety of motion exercises, strengthening, balance training, proper gait retraining, and functional activities for every recovery stage after knee replacement surgery.
Most people complete 4–8 weeks of knee replacement physical therapy, followed by home exercises to maintain strength and flexibility.
Common mistakes include skipping exercises, avoiding knee bending, overdoing activity too early, ignoring swelling, and stopping physical therapy after knee replacement too soon.
Consistent knee replacement exercises, frequent movement, proper pain control, and early physical therapy after knee replacement are key to reducing stiffness.
Yes. After initial supervision, most patients continue a home-based knee replacement physical therapy program with periodic professional guidance.
Dr. Nidhi Kumari
She has persuaded her bachelor’s from SGT University, Gurugram, she has done her internship at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and persuade her Master in Physiotherapy from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. She has previously worked with Orthocure clinic, Dr.Nasir physiotherapy rehabilitation, Quantum physiotherapy, and wellness center.
If you have more questions.
Dr. Nidhi
She has persuaded her bachelor’s from SGT University, Gurugram, she has done her internship at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and persuade her Master in Physiotherapy from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. She has previously worked with Orthocure clinic, Dr.Nasir physiotherapy rehabilitation, Quantum physiotherapy, and wellness center.
If you have more questions.
Also Read: Back Pain: Causes and Treatment
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We are your doctor’s first choice and trusted by 50,000+ patients.
Resolve360 is great platform for online physiotherapy.
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Doctor David has been really great and helpful. I would highly recommend Resolve 360.
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Best therapy sessions that too at home and timings are very flexible. I had a issue in my neck and lower back since almost 4 to 5 years, taken so many treatments and physio sessions. But all gave a temporary relief. Then my friend referred me this Resolve 360 in 2020, in starting i was hesitant as everything was online, but after taking almost 10 sessions i got much relief, and now i am almost free of pain. Thanks to the team of Resolve 360.
I had online Physiotherpy sessions by Prerana for my heel pain. ( Tendo Achilis Sprain).
Though virtual, it was more interactive.
She was very observant throughout the sessions, correcting me while doing the exercises and was assertive in her outlook.
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Physiotherpy though not a miracle treatment, is a compelling necessity to most of the musculoskeletal and neurological illnesses. It needs to be accepted as healthy way to live.
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About 3 to 4 months ago, my blood report showed very high bad cholesterol levels, I was low on stamina and had frequent breathing issues. My GP prescribed me cholesterol meds for a month but I felt that alone wouldn’t get me back in shape because I needed a major lifestyle overhaul.
Dr.David educated me about my condition in detail and where it could lead me to if I don’t take action in the long run. He put me on a balanced workout regime being easy with cardio workouts in the initial days and gradually upgraded it observing me closely. He also advises me on dietary choices and follows up frequently. During the initial days, my ears used to get blocked within 5 wall squats and I stop right away but now I do over 20 in one shot and hardly feel a thing. I used to lose balance and fall off over my face within 6 push-ups or 20 seconds of plank and now I do about 24 push-ups in one shot. My heart rate used to raise above 150 bpm doing jumping jacks or other cardio workout within 20-30 seconds. You won’t believe I don’t do any of these cardio workouts without additional weights on my feet these days and my heart rate and recovery are as steady as they could get. I couldn’t run for over 2 min without stopping and gasping and now I cover about 4.6 km in 30 min and follow-up with a 20 min walk. Not convinced yet? My VO2 Max (I use an Apple Watch to measure this stat) was just about 33 while I started with Resolve360 and David. That reflects a very poor cardio respiratory fitness for a 34 year old. It’s 43.5 today ! Easily above average. Please read upon about VO2 Max and how it directly relates to cardio respiratory fitness so you get an accurate picture about my monumental progress in the last 3 months. I’ve been trying to get into a regular physical workout and balanced diet discipline since my 20s but I’d never been so motivated as I’m now. Give these guys a try. After all, the best investment you could ever make is on your health !
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