A total knee replacement is a common procedure used to treat severe arthritis or traumatic knee injury. These surgeries are very successful. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), 90 percent of people who have a knee replacement experience a significant reduction in symptoms. To ensure a safe and effective rehabilitation, you should follow your doctor's instructions to slowly increase your level of activity after surgery.
Physical Therapy
The first step to a successful rehabilitation is physical therapy. According to the Mayo Clinic, a physical therapist will show you exercises to do to increase your mobility while you are still in the hospital. You should commit to following the exercise program given to you by your therapist. This will reduce the risk of stiffness and blood clot formation, which can be complications of this procedure. While you may experience some pain while doing these exercises, it should not be unbearable. Let your doctor know if you require more pain medication to complete these exercises.
Walking
As soon as your are discharged home, you should follow the walking program given to you by your doctor. According to the Mayo Clinic, a graduated walking program should begin indoors, then gradually progress to outdoors. When beginning to walk, make sure that there are no loose objects in your walking path. Once you feel comfortable walking on flat surfaces, you should progress to walking up stairs. Be sure to use the railings to prevents falls. Consult your doctor if you feel that you are not progressing as you should.
Other Activities To Do
When approved by your doctor, you can, swim, golf, drive, bike and climb stairs. It is best to be active in accordance with your doctor's recommendations to prevent stiffness and expedite the healing process. Stop any activity that is causing you pain or discomfort. If you are experiencing abnormal levels of pain or discomfort you should consult your doctor.
Activities to Avoid
Your new knee replacement needs time to heal and to bind to the existing bone. In addition, the swelling and tissue damage from surgery needs to improve. Progressing into activities too soon can cause loosening of your knee replacement and may require additional surgical repair. To prevent this complication, you should avoid activities that are very intense or involve a high level of impact on your knee. According to the AAOS, you should avoid jogging or running, contact sports, jumping and high impact aerobics.Some activities are not as dangerous to your new knee replacement, but should still be avoided to reduce the risk of loosening the replacement. The AAOS recommends avoiding vigorous walking or hiking, skiing, tennis, lifting weight over 50 pounds and aerobic stair climbing. Be patient and follow your doctor's instructions to ensure the complete healing of your new replacement.
