Exercise for artificial knees helps you get the most use out of your new knee replacement, partial or total. Exercise concentrates on restoring your knee flexibility and strengthening your knee's supporting muscles, all with the intent of returning you to as fully functioning life as soon as possible. Exercises can be done during recuperation and throughout life. Not all exercises may work for you, so consult with your doctor first.
Leg Lifts
Exercise for artificial knees needs to work on strengthening your quadriceps, otherwise known as thigh muscles. Your quadriceps play an essential role in stabilizing and supporting your knee joint, so the stronger your quadriceps are, the more secure your artificial knee will be. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says to increase your quadriceps strength by doing some straight leg lifts. Lie on your back in bed or on a sofa, with your legs fully extended. Tighten your thigh muscles on your surgical-side leg. Lift your leg six inches from the surface. Hold for 10 seconds. Slowly return to original position. Relax 10 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
Seated Foot Slide
A variety of flexibility maneuvers designed to increase your knee's range of motion will be included as exercise for artificial knees. The Physiotherapy Site suggests doing a seated foot slide, known as a knee bend, to gently stretch your knee area. Sit upright in a firm chair with both feet firmly on the floor. Gently lift your surgical-side foot and slide a food tray underneath it. Slowly bend your knee by pulling the tray toward you. Pull as far as possible without causing undue pain. Hold the stretch 10 seconds. Slowly slide the tray back to original position. Relax 10 seconds. Repeat exercise 10 times.
Thigh Isos
Your entire leg lacks sufficient muscle strength immediately after your knee arthroplasty. Including some isometric exercises for your artificial knee will be an easy and effective way to gently strengthen your quadriceps muscles. Do the isometrics while lying down, standing or sitting with your leg straight. Tighten your thigh muscles and try to straighten your knee. Hold tension 10 seconds. Release tension. Relax 10 seconds. Repeat exercise 10 times during a two-minute period, recommends the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Passive Hamstrings
Gently stretching your hamstring muscles plays a key role in straightening your artificial knee after surgery. Straightening your knee area helps reduce risks of complications and malfunctioning of your artificial knee. The Physiotherapy Site recommends doing some passive hangs to increase your hamstring flexibility. Sit upright or lie on your back with your surgical leg fully extended. Prop your foot onto a stack of pillows, allowing your artificial knee area to hang freely. Feel the stretch along the backside of your knee. Let your knee gently stretch itself out for 10 minutes. Remove pillows and relax. Repeat exercise twice daily.
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