Exercises After Knee Replacement Surgery

The knee replacement surgery is intended to alleviate your knee from joint pain. The following article will provide exercises your orthopedic doctor may prescribe following knee surgery so you can have a quick and easy recovery.

Low Impact Aerobic Exercise – Low-impact aerobic exercises like swimming, riding a bike and walking are great for rebuilding strength in your knee. However, pace yourself accordingly and increase intensity gradually, or you may start feeling pain. Be sure to stop if you start feeling any pain, or if pain starts to increase.

Short-Arc Knee Extensions – With short-arc knee extensions, you’ll want to roll up several towels so they’re around 6-8 inches thick. Then, lay in bed while the towels are under one knee and bend the other knee. Keep your knee on the towels and then lift your foot to straighten it out. Hold this for a few seconds, then lower the foot.

Ankle Pumps – If you’re lying in bed, point your toes downward and then bring them up towards your head while tightening your calf.

Heel Slides – In a heel slide, you’ll slide your heel along your bed while pulling your feet towards you and your knee bends.

Straight Leg Raise – A straight leg raise starts when you tighten your quadriceps, or the muscles that make up the front of your thigh. Lift your leg 6-12 inches from the bed, toward the ceiling.

Quadriceps Sets – With your legs straight, lie on your back and tighten the quads as the back of your knee is pressed on the bed. Hold this position for a few seconds, then relax the leg and repeat.

Standing Knee Bends – While holding onto a steady surface, like a table, stand and bend your knee as far as you can before discomfort hits. Hold this position for a few seconds, then lower the leg. You should also be doing exercise that helps increase your upper body strength, as upper body strength will help you while using a walker or crutches after your knee replacement.

Bicep Curls – Keep your elbow close to your body and have your wrist straight, while you’re in a sitting position. Then, bend your arm, move your hand up to your shoulder, and straighten your arm out again, lowering it slowly.

Triceps Extensions – While you sit, lean forward from the waist. Then, bend your elbow so your forearm is parallel to the floor, and straighten it while extending your arm behind you.

Seated Press Ups – To do a seated press up, find a sturdy chair with armrests. With your palms on the armrests, press down and lift yourself up from the chair, holding it for 3-5 seconds, and then bend it slowly to ease it back down.

Your doctor will discuss your options before you start your knee surgery exercise problem. If you feel any pain or swelling in your knee after trying out these exercises, call your doctor and take a period of rest before you try out another exercise regime.

Post-Knee Surgery Home Exercise Program

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