When arthritis or long-term damage to your knee sidelines you with crippling pain and stiffness, surgery might be the best option. Knee replacements help you regain your ability to move about without pain and to resume a healthy lifestyle. But full replacement requires major surgery, and rebuilding the strength and flexibility you had before it takes time. Follow your doctor's guidelines as to when and how much swimming you can do after surgery.
Basics
Your knee links together your thigh bone, or femur, with your shin bone, or fibula. The patella, or kneecap, sits in front, kept in place by ligaments and muscles. Cartilage insulates the bones at their junction point and prevents them from grinding against one another. A thin membrane covers the joint and disperses synovial fluid, a lubricating substance that allows the smooth operation of your knee. Breakdown of the cartilage from wear and tear, degenerative disease or injury to any part of the knee can lead to debilitating pain.
Timing
No two patients experience knee replacement surgery and recovery in exactly the same way, but in general, returning to normal activities can take three to six weeks. You need to build up strength in your muscles before engaging in demanding exercise, so follow a program recommended by your physical therapist. Knee replacements relieve pain and stiffness but they do not make you a better athlete or more fit. For avid swimmers, though, returning to the pool pain-free provides a physical and mental boost.
Low-Impact Exercise
Swimming is on the short list of approved exercise for knee transplant patients along with recreational biking and golf, as listed on the website of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. High-impact activities such as running, jumping and high-impact aerobics can degrade the artificial cushions in your joint, and the AAOS recommends against them. The buoyancy of water insulates and protects your joints as you exercise so you can swim after knee replacement surgery. Performing stretching and strengthening exercises in shallow or chest-deep water also protects your joints. Check with your physician and physical therapist before returning to the pool post-surgery.
Tips
Not all swimming strokes treat your knee equally. Breaststroke relies heavily on flexible legs and knees to generate forward propulsion. The "whip kick" typical in a breaststroke kick puts demands on your knees and any imperfection in your technique increases the stress, according to Dr. Ross Hauser in "Swimmer" magazine. Never use fins swimming breaststroke, as they further increase the load on your knees. Freestyle is a good choice for anyone returning to the pool following knee surgery because you can easily let your legs trail behind you, or use a pull buoy float. Freestyle is a front quadrant stroke, meaning you rely on your shoulders and upper back for power more than your legs. Gradually increase your kicking as you regain strength, power and flexibility.
