Stretches for the knee joint after knee replacement surgery are critical for rehabilitation. The problem is that stretching hurts, and therefore you may want to wait until the surgery pain goes away before stretching. However, even if your knee joint is swollen, do exercises that increase flexibility and range of motion to avoid future problems with your knee. Begin with five repetitions and add one rep each day until you reach 15 at most. Make sure to get your doctor's go-ahead before you begin stretching workouts.
Seated Crossover Knee Stretch
The seated crossover knee stretch helps you bend the knee. After surgery, your swollen knee will not easily bend or extend. This exercise increases range of motion for flexion of the knee joint, and also stretches the quadriceps. To perform this stretch, sit on the floor with your recovering knee bent as far as you can with the foot on the floor. Cross the unaffected leg over the post-operative leg and use the good leg to help pull your knee toward you, increasing the bend.
Passive Knee Stretch With a Block
The passive knee stretch with a block exercise gradually straightens the knee joint. The block supports and elevates the heel to allow for full extension of the knee. To perform this passive knee stretch, sit on a bed or the floor with a block in front of you. Place the heel of the operated leg on the block and drop the knee toward the bed to extend the joint as far as you can. Build up to maintaining this position for five minutes to passively and slowly stretch the knee.
Knee Bends on a Bed
Knee bends on a bed take the knee from extension to flexion and back to extension. This movement stretches the joint through a gentle range of motion exercise. To begin, sit up in your bed and place a tray or paper plate under the foot of your bad knee. You need something that slides and is controllable. Slide the foot toward you to bend the knee. Hold for three seconds. Then, slide the foot away from you to extend the knee.
Knee Bends in a Chair
Knee bends in a chair are similar to knee bends on a bed. Exercising in bed is likely easier at first just because you can stay in bed, but you may find the chair exercise more comfortable after you are moving around. To perform the knee bends in a chair, sit down with your feet on the floor. Slide the bad leg toward you until the knee is bent as far as it can be and hold for three seconds. Keep both buttocks firmly in the chair. Then, straighten the knee.
