Exercises after a knee transplant are designed to improve range of motion in your surgically repaired knee as well as strengthen the muscles that surround and attach to your knee. While your legs will be weak due to inactivity, it will be important to perform low-impact exercises to expedite the recovery process. Check with your doctor or surgeon to make sure these exercises are safe for you.
Straight Leg Raises
The straight leg raise is designed to reduce post-operative pain and increase your range of motion. Lie down in a bed with both legs fully extended. Lift your injured leg up off the bed, keeping your thigh muscles tight as you lift. Continue to lift until your leg is several inches off the bed. Hold this position for five to 10 seconds before lowering it back down. Repeat until your thigh muscle is fatigued.
Leg Slides
The leg slide exercise will improve your lateral range of motion. While lying in bed, extend both of your legs out with your arms at your sides. Slide your injured leg out and away from your body, keeping it on the bed as you slide it. Your knee should be facing up for the duration of this exercise. Slide your leg back to its original position and repeat until fatigued.
Knee Straightening
This knee exercise will help increase mobility in your repaired knee. Roll up a small towel, and place it directly under your heel so that it is not making contact with the bed. Tighten your thigh muscle and bring your knee down in an effort to get the back of your knee to make contact with your bed. Hold this extended position for five to 10 seconds before returning to your original position. Repeat until fatigued.
Sitting Kicks
This seated exercise will strengthen your quadriceps and hamstrings as well as your surgically repaired knee. Sit in a chair with your back straight and feet flat on the floor. Extend your surgically repaired leg out and away from the floor, pushing it as far as it can go before you feel pain. Once you hit your max point, hold this position for five seconds before relaxing your leg and moving it back into its original position.
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