Total Knee Replacement
Total knee replacements are a common surgery and with advancements in surgical techniques patients generally have short hospital stays (5-10 days). Shortly after surgery deficits in quadriceps and hamstring strength are noted as well as difficulty with bending the knee and stairs. Pre-surgical rehabilitation that focuses on improving quadriceps/hamstring strength results in better long term outcomes especially in those with severe osteoarthritis.
Following surgery the knee will be swollen and difficult to bend. 90 degrees of knee bending is normally achieved before leaving hospital and we aim for around 120 degrees achieved by 6 weeks’ time. It is often a painful process getting the knee to bend again and pain medication is helpful in allowing the rehabilitation to proceed.
Our second aim is to restore normal strength and flexibility of the muscles that support the knee. Proper function of these muscles is essential for tasks such as getting in/out of a car and climbing stairs.
We expect that around 12 weeks post-surgery normal knee bending has returned and muscles are functioning well. At this time it is safe return to low-impact exercise such as walking, cycling or swimming.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to call on 32454532 and one of our experienced physiotherapists can assist you.
Kind Regards,
Capalaba Physio Works Team