Post – Operative Exercises After a Total

Knee Replacement Surgery

Ashutosh Hospital Vadodara

Phases of Recovery after a Total Knee

Replacement Surgery (TKR):

Early Post-operative Exercises

Initial Activity Phase

Advanced Exercises & Activities

Early Post-operative Exercises

Quadriceps Sets

Tighten your thigh muscle and straighten your knee.

Then Hold for 5 to 10 seconds.

Repeat 10 times, rest a minute and again repeat. Repeat

several times till the thigh muscles get fatigued.

Straight Leg Raises

Tighten the thigh muscles with knee fully straightened. Lift

leg at an angle of 45 degrees and hold for 5 to 10 seconds

and then slowly lower.

Positions for doing the exercises – Lying position, Sitting

on a Chair or bed.

Ankle Pumps

Rhythmically move foot up and down by contracting calf

muscles. Repeat this exercise for two to three minutes,

thrice an hour a day. Continue doing the exercise until

swelling subsides.

Knee Straightening Exercises

Place a small towel just above the heel and

tighten your thigh. Try to straighten your knee

so as to touch the back of the knee to bed.

Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat several times a

day.

Supported Knee Bends

Bend your knee while sliding foot on the bed. Hold

the position for 5 to 10 seconds and then straighten.

Repeat several times a day.

Sitting Supported Knee Bends

Exercise Position – Sitting at bed side or in a chair.

Place foot behind the heel of operated knee and

straighten the knee, holding the position for5 to 10

seconds. Repeat several times.

Sitting Unsupported Knee Bends

Exercise Position – Sitting at bed side or in a chair

with feet resting on floor.

Slowly straighten your knee and hold the position

for 5 – 10 seconds. Then lower the knee and repeat

the exercise several times.

Early Activity Phase

Weight Bearing

During early Activity Phase, start bearing weight on the leg

undergone TKR. Balance your weight on the crutches and

your body. Stand comfortably and erect with your weight

evenly balanced on your walker or crutches.

Progression from Weight Bearing to Walking

Start progressing from Standing erect to Walking. Advance your

walker or crutches a short distance; then reach forward with your

operated leg with your knee straightened so the heel of your foot

touches the floor first.

Start normal walking with following the sequence of heel strike, foot

flat, heel off and then toe off. Walk rhythmically and smoothly as per

the guidance of your physiotherapist or surgeon.

Adjust the length of your step and speed as necessary to walk with an

even pattern. Gradually put more weight on your leg. Progress from

walking with a walker to walking with a cane.

Return to Activity Stage

Standing Knee Bends

Stand erect holding a support. Bend your knee as

much as you can. Hold the position for 5 to 10

seconds. Straighten the knee and repeat the exercise

several times.

Assisted Knee Bends

Exercise Position – Lye on your back placing

a folded towel over your operated knee and

drop the towel to your foot. Bend your knee

and apply gentle pressure through the towel to

increase the bend.

Advanced Phase Exercises

Multiple Angle Isometrics Light Isotonic Exercises – using weight-cuffs on

ankle. The exercises are used for strengthening of knee joint muscles (Quadriceps and Hamstrings)

Resisted Straight Leg Raising Closed chain mini – squats Lunges Stair Climbing

Stair Climbing and DescendingAlways lead up the stairs with your good knee and down

the stairs with your operated knee. Remember, "up with the good" and "down with the bad."

More Advanced Exercises

Stationary Bicycling

Stretching Exercises

Aquatic Exercises

Stair Climbing