The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that total knee replacement is one of the most common orthopedic surgeries for Americans who are age 65 and older. A total knee replacement replaces your worn-out knee joint with an artificial knee joint. The goal of the surgery is to restore full, pain-free functioning to your knee. The right kind of exercise during your recovery can help you regain full use of your new knee joint and return to your normal activities.
Recovery Time
You should be able to return to normal activities within three to six weeks of your return home after surgery, and you should be able to drive after four to six weeks. Usually your doctor will remove all stitches and staples after 60 days. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that 90 percent of people who undergo total knee replacement enjoy a decrease in pain and improvement in their ability to perform normal activities of daily living. But after your knee replacement, you may have to give up jogging and other high-impact activities for the rest of your life. You can replace these with other activities, such as swimming and bike riding.
Exercises
Your doctor will prescribe a series of exercises. You'll perform some of them while lying in bed. You may even begin these while you're in the hospital, the day after your surgery. These exercises may include leg raises, foot extensions and tightening and relaxing of different muscle groups. For other exercises, you'll sit in a chair. You may be instructed to do leg raises -- some with weights. Do not use weights unless your doctor instructs you to do so. In addition to prescribed exercises, you'll be encouraged to walk as much as possible, putting as much weight as you can on your recovering leg. You may use a walker at first to help you walk.
Frequency
Your doctor will prescribe an exercise program for you, but generally you should exercise three times a day unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise. Start slowly, with five repetitions of each exercise at each session. Add one or two repetitions per day until you reach 10 to 15 repetitions.
Tips
Do each exercise slowly, to the best of your ability. For the first few weeks after surgery, take pain medication prior to your exercise session. You will probably feel some discomfort at first; if you have significant pain, contact your doctor. Do your exercises every day. The patients who have the best recovery are those who exercise.
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