Preparation and exercise prior to knee surgery allows for rehabilitation to begin immediately after the injury and aims to reduce postoperative complications and stress.The preoperative requirements will vary slightly depending on the individual and the type of surgery. For example, an overweight patient may be encouraged to loose weight before knee replacement surgery to help regain weight-bearing capabilities faster after surgery.
Preparations
Two to three weeks following a significant knee injury, preparations for surgery include: reducing initial pain and swelling, education regarding the surgery, regaining range of motion in the joint, building leg muscle control and returning to a normal walking pattern. Preoperative rehabilitation is used as a guideline for specialists as to the expected outcomes of postoperative surgery. In addition, setting up your home to make the recovery from surgery easier will reduce your stress and allow you to cope with the limitations immediately after surgery.
Benefits
Preparations for knee surgery are done primarily to accelerate the recovery process. Postoperative exercises will be more successful and effective if preoperative measures have been taken. For example, by maximizing muscle strength of the knee prior to surgery it decreases the chances of developing postoperative complications, such as arthrofibrosis. It also familiarizes you with the exercises that will strengthen the knee after surgery.
Increase Range of Motion
Begin seated on the floor with your feet in front of you. Start with the knees comfortably bent. You may rest your weight on your hands by placing them on the floor behind you back. With your injured knee, stretch the leg out straight. Try to get the underside of the knee as close to the floor as possible. Hold for 30 seconds. Draw the heel upward toward your buttock. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat five to eight times.
Increase Strength
To strengthen the muscles of the knee in preparation of surgery begin with a ball. Stand with your back against a wall and place the ball directly behind your injured knee. Gently press the ball into the wall by straightening the knee. Hold for five seconds. Repeat eight to 12 times. Reverse the exercise by sitting on the floor. With your injured leg slightly bent place the ball directly behind the knee. Squeeze the ball for a hold of five seconds. Repeat eight to 12 times. Progress the strengthening to a weighted leg extension on a leg extension machine.
References
- "Rehabilitation Techniques for Sports Medicine and Athletic Training"; William E. Prentice; 2004
- "Total Knee Arthroplasty"; Johan Bellemans; 2005
- "Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation"; Joel A. DeLisa, et al.; 2005
- "Total Knee Replacement and Rehabilitation"; Daniel J. Brugioni, et al.; 2004
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