Knee replacements are one of the most common sports-related surgeries performed. This is because the knee takes a considerable amount of strain, not only during sporting activities but also during everyday movement. While surgery methods have improved significantly, recovery from a knee replacement usually takes three months -- often longer, according to The Physiotherapy Site. During that time, vigorous activities like running should be avoided.
About Knee Replacement Surgery
This type of surgery is generally used as a last-resort treatment, notes Sportsinjuryclinic.net. It will usually only be recommended if less invasive treatments, such as walking aids and physical therapy, have not helped. A full knee replacement requires the surgeon to make an incision down the front of the knee to fit metal caps to the bottom of the thigh bone and top of the shin bone. Your joint between these two bones is replaced with a plastic hinge.
Knee Replacement and Running
According to NHS Choices, the website for England’s National Health Service, your new knee may feel slightly uncomfortable for up to a year after surgery and will continue to heal for up to two years after your operation. This is one reason you should avoid high-impact activities like running. In fact, on the Online Orthopaedics website, Dr. Thomas J. Haverbush advises against running at all after a knee replacement. This is because this activity places extreme stress on the knee and can result in failure of the replacement joint.
Early Rehabilitation
Your knee is a major weight-bearing joint, and there is not a lot of protective tissue around the bones to support and protect it during recovery. This means that your recovery will need to be monitored carefully to ensure you don’t place too much pressure on the joint too soon, adds The Physiotherapy Site. A physiotherapist will usually be involved in your rehabilitation from the very outset, and he is likely to encourage you to stand up as soon as the day after surgery to prevent the knee from becoming stiff. A week after surgery, you should be able to walk with the aid of a walking frame; however, some discomfort is normal, notes NHS Choices. Most people stay in the hospital for a week after their operation and, on discharge, your physiotherapist will teach you rehabilitation exercises to do at home.
Rehabilitation Exercises
During the initial stages of rehabilitation, gentle exercises to strengthen your quadriceps will improve support for your knee, notes the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. These exercises can be started when you’re still in the hospital to aid recovery and reduce pain. While lying in bed with your legs straight, contract your thigh muscles for a count of 10, relax and repeat 10 times. You can also try straight-leg raises by tightening the thigh muscles in your injured leg and lifting it a few inches off the bed. Hold in the elevated position for up to 10 seconds, slowly lower and repeat as many times as you can.
References
- The Physiotherapy Site: Knee Replacement Recovery
- Sportsinjuryclinic.net: Knee Surgery
- NHS Choices; Recovering From a Knee Replacement; Sept. 4, 2010
- Online Orthopaedics; Dos and Don’ts Following Total Knee Replacement Surgery; Thomas J. Haverbush, M.D. P.C
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; Total Knee Replacement Exercise Guide; March 2011
