Knee surgery can incapacitate you for a long time, especially if you have not prepared for the operation. Lengthy and expensive stays in rehabilitation facilities take you away from work, and postoperative disability prevents you from participating in your normal activities. Engaging in preoperative exercise reduces your risk for discharge to a rehabilitation facility by 73 percent, according to a study published in "Arthritis Care & Research." Improve your postsurgical mobility and reduce stays in rehabilitation programs by participating in presurgical exercises before your knee operation.
Quadriceps
Focus your energy on your quadriceps muscle, located on the front of your thigh, just above your knee. Quadriceps muscles are among the strongest in your body, responsible for extending your knee when you straighten your leg. You will lose a significant proportion of strength in your quadriceps muscle after surgery -- power difficult to regain postoperatively. Improve your proportion of postoperative strength by increasing your preoperative power.
Knee Extensions and Quad Sets
Perform knee extensions and quad sets before surgery to increase range of motion in your knee and to strengthen quadriceps. To do this exercise, lie on your back with the heel of your bent injured leg on a phone book or some other object a few inches high. Gradually straighten your leg. After you have extended your knee for a few moments, perform quad sets by tensing your quadriceps muscles for 10 seconds without lifting up your heel. Do quad sets 10 times, according to ACLSolutions.com.
Heel Slides
Do heel slide exercises to improve your preoperative range of motion. Lie on your back with your injured leg straightened out. Slowly slide the heel of your injured leg back towards your buttocks, carefully flexing your knee. Continue bending your knee until you feel a slight bit of pressure in your knee and then hold for 10 seconds. Relax and straighten your leg, holding in an extended position for 10 seconds. Do heel slides in sets of 10.
Straight Leg Raises
Straight leg raises help preserve quadriceps strength. Lie on a bed with your injured leg straightened. Start by tensing your quadriceps muscle and then raising your foot until your heel is about 18 inches from the bed. Lower your leg and rest for 10 seconds before repeating. Do this exercise 10 times per set.
Considerations
It is important to strengthen other areas of your body before you have knee surgery, such as the muscles in your arms. You will be relying on strong arms to get yourself in and out of bed, up from a seated position and for using crutches. Exercise both legs, as your healthy leg will be carrying an extra burden after surgery.
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