Post-Op Rehab Total Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement surgery can be a scary procedure to go through. However, it is an extremely common operation performed on many people. For most people, it takes up to 3 months for a person to resume daily activities, after total knee replacement surgery and from 6 to 12 months to regain full strength and endurance. Thanks to modern advances in medicine and science, it is very easy for people to recover from a total knee replacement with the proper care and rigorous physical therapy.

After a total knee replacement, you will probably stay at the hospital for 2 or 3 days. While you are there, you will either be given crutches or a walker and shown how to practice walking with your assistive device, how to safely get in and out of beds or chairs, and climbing a few steps on stairs. Every day until you are discharged, you will increase your exercise and activities. By the time you leave the hospital, you may already be able to bend your knee almost 90 degrees, straighten it, and walk with little effort with your crutch or walker. It’s important to remember that feeling pain and discomfort immediately after your surgery is normal. If you feel excessive pain after surgery or doing any of these exercises, let your physical therapist know and he or she will specifically devise a plan for you to help manage your pain.

After six weeks of doing these exercises, you may be told that you no longer need to use crutches or a walker. While you are at home, your physical therapist may give you even more exercises to perform. These may include range of motion exercises, strengthening exercises, body awareness and balance training, and functional training. If you are diligent with your physical therapy, you may also be able to resume activities like shopping, working, and driving within no time. After twelve weeks, you may be able to start doing low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, biking, and golfing. You should avoid any high-impact activities because they can cause damage to your artificial joint.

With proper rehabilitation and diligent physical therapy, the outlook on your knee after a total knee replacement will be very positive. Recovering from a total knee replacement can be very easy and painless. Those who undergo total knee replacements are often able to enjoy their lives with a lot less pain in their knees.