Knee replacement surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures mostly in old age. And while this major surgery often brings relief from chronic pain and joint discomfort, the recovery process can be challenging.
Post-surgery it is important to get into a regular habit of doing knee replacement exercises. After having knee replacement surgery, physiotherapy aims to help you restore your strength, movement, and overall function. This strength and motion to perform daily activities like walking or even getting out of bed.
Postoperative knee therapy- the key to better and flexible movements
Both medical conditions and external injuries can trigger joint pain. Joint aches are a given if you have severely injured your knee through falling or in any other way. It might cause ligament tears, sprains, or fractures. And if the pain becomes unbearable or if the damages are severe, mere exercise won’t help you recover. Chances are that you will be advised to go through an operation. An operation can be a lot to go through and it is not the end of the recovery process, that is where the process starts.
Exercises for the knee before and after surgery are crucial for recovery and rehabilitation. After surgery, your doctor or physiotherapist will probably recommend a specific set of exercises to help you regain your knee joint’s strength, range of motion, and mobility. So having a comprehensive exercise plan after knee replacement surgery is essential for regaining strength and flexibility. And a physiotherapy clinic will help you with a detailed treatment plan to get you back to your normal life.
The exercises are intended to strengthen your surrounding muscles and tendons as well as the additional ligaments or muscles that have been added to the joint. So, it’s crucial that you adhere to your doctor’s advice and carry out the exercises as advised.
Knee replacement surgery can be a daunting experience. You may have questions about what to expect from your physiotherapist during the postoperative period. Let us help you with a guide on what to expect from your physiotherapist regarding exercises for knee replacement, including therapeutic exercises, activities of daily living, mobility aids, and pain management.
Post-Op Exercises
You don’t have to engage in heavy exercises immediately after the operation. It mostly begins with a set of light and warm-up exercises. They can be started right after surgery in the recovery area. They may seem uncomfortable at first, but they will speed up your recovery and even lessen your postoperative pain. Then gradually it moves on to a bit heavier exercises as soon as you start to recover. Let’s have a look:
Early Stage
The exercises that are shown below can help you increase blood circulation in your legs and feet, which is crucial for avoiding blood clots. Also, they’ll aid with muscle augmentation and enhance knee mobility.
Quad Contractions
Quad contractions are a low-intensity training technique that uses four sets of contractions to build muscle strength. This kind of exercise is used to improve flexibility, stamina, and muscle tone. This exercise involves the use of light weights and can be utilized as a low-impact form of physical rehabilitation.
Knee Extension
Knee extensions involve extending the knee joint all the way through its range of motion. This helps in toning the quadriceps and hamstring muscles in the front and back of the thigh. Moreover, it can assist with balance and coordination. This is one of the most crucial parts of the exercises after knee replacement. Given below are some of the exercises involved:
- Straight Leg Raise
- Ankle Pumps
- Knee Straightening Exercises
- Bed-Supported Knee Bends
- Sitting Supported Knee Bends
- Sitting Unsupported Knee Bends
Early Activities Stage
In this phase you gradually start getting back to normalcy, you can start moving around your home or hospital and carry out regular tasks as you start to regain a bit of motion. This stage is crucial because it prepares your knee to support heavier loads. Let’s have a look at the exercises:
- Slow Walking
- Step-ups
- Hydrotherapy
- Stair Climbing and Descending
Advanced Stage
Your physiotherapist may increase your activity level after you regain your ability to walk short distances. It involves a more advanced set of knee replacement exercises. Depending on your progress and how comfortable you feel, advanced recovery is where you can start exerting more control over the workouts you do. Advanced stage exercises include:
- Standing Knee Bends
- Assisted Knee Bends
- Knee Exercises with Resistance
- Exercycling
- Swimming
- Light Jogging
- Rowing
Following any exercise or activity, you might experience knee pain or swelling. You can get relief from the pain after exercise by elevating your leg and using ice wrapped in a towel. You should apply it for 20 minutes, remove it, wait for 20 minutes, and then continue the process for another 2 hours.
For people who have undergone knee surgery, physiotherapy is an important part of the recovery process. It not only helps to increase overall joint flexibility but also to strengthen the muscles and ligaments surrounding the knee joints. Regular exercise can help to improve the range of motion and lower the risk of adhesions and scar tissue, which can restrict motion and lead to long-term stiffness in the knee joint. Moreover, exercise helps to enhance posture, balance, and coordination. Also, it can lower the likelihood of developing additional medical disorders related to knee surgery, as well as inflammation and pain. A physiotherapy clinic also helps to increase general physical stiffness.
Experience excellence-driven unrivaled results at MRC
Your recovery process is dependent on the kind of hands that care for you, i.e your physiotherapy. To recover efficiently you need to seek help from a trusted clinic that has plenty of patients vouching for their guaranteed results and exceptional service.
Medical Rehabilitation Centre is one of the best physiotherapy clinic in Kolkata, with an extraordinary team of therapists that will utilize all possible techniques, including diagnostics, medical treatment, integrated therapies, and surgical rehab in a very comfortable setting, to address all your pain and paralysis disorders.