A knee replacement is a surgical procedure that can restore normal usage to a knee that has been badly damaged by arthritis or other degenerative diseases. Your knee is one of the largest joints in your body and, when you're healthy, you may not realize that you use your knee in most of your daily activities. During a knee replacement, parts of your worn down bone, cartilage and ligaments are replaced with metal and plastic components. Rehabilitation for knee replacement patients includes strengthening exercises that increase your range of motion and mobility, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Knee Bends
Knee bend exercises restore the range of motion of your knee after surgery. Your doctor or physical therapist will have you start knee bends and other exercises within a few days after your knee replacement and will make the stretches more challenging as your recovery progresses. The first step is to bend your knee as far as you can while you are lying in bed. Slide your foot across the bed, toward the rest of your body. When you have reached the point at which you can bend your knee no more, hold the position for five to 10 seconds before sliding your foot down so that your leg is back to a straightened position.
As you continue to heal, you can modify the exercise and begin knee bends while sitting in a chair with your legs out in front of you. Bring your knee back toward your body, bending it as far as you can, slowly. If you need extra support, put your healthy foot behind the heel of your hurt knee and use it as a guide to bend your knee. As you recovery, you will no longer need the support and the number of repetitions you can do before your leg tires will increase, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Once you are more mobile, you can perform knee bends while standing, with the support of your walker.
Straightening Exercises
Being able to straighten your knee is an important part of postoperative recovery. Knee straightening exercises can start as soon as you are out of surgery, under the supervision of your doctor. Quad sets are one of the most important exercises for those with knee replacements, according to the UK-based OrthoSports. While you are lying in bed with your legs out straight in front of you, tighten your quads--your thigh muscles. Try to straighten your knee as much as possible, so that the back of your leg lies flat on the bed. Do this exercise repeatedly for one minute, trying to reach a goal of 10 to 20 repetitions in that short time period. A variation of the knee straightening exercises does not tax the thighs as much. Roll up a hand towel and place it under your leg at your Achilles tendon--a little bit above your heel. The back of your knee should not be touching the bed. Contract your thigh muscles and work at touching the back of your knee to the bed, thus straightening out your leg.
Pillow Squeezes
When you have arthritis in one area of your body, you sometimes compensate with other parts of your body, which can make some muscles sore and stiff due to overwork. OrthoSports explains that knee replacement exercises help you regain motion in your knee but also eliminate stiffness throughout your leg and build strong muscles. The pillow squeeze works not only your new knee joint but your hip muscles as well. Lie down on your back with both legs straight out in front of you. Place a pillow between your legs, at the knees. Tighten up your leg muscles to squeeze the pillow, holding the position for 10 seconds. You should feel a pull in your hips. Work yourself up to 20 repetitions.
Cycling
Almost immediately after knee replacement surgery, you will be walking to build up your strength. As you progress, your physical therapist may introduce you to cycling as a way to increase your range of motion. When you begin on the stationary bike, your pedals should be adjusted so that your knee is almost completely straight on the "down" pedal. You'll be riding with no resistance at this stage. Cycling is a long-term rehab for knee replacement patients, explains the AAOS, and gradually you'll add resistance and return the pedals to a more normal position that places your knee at a slight bend. You might experience pain when you ride forward; if this occurs, pedal backward until your pain subsides.
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