Knee replacement surgery is quite common in recent days because of poor life style, lack of exercise, obesity etc.Knee replacement is quite different from hip replacement.Walking about and doing normal life is enough to rehabilitate a hip, but a knee needs a different approach. A knee replacement needs a steady, persistent approach to exercise, day after day. To get the best out of your new knee, you need to work!Exercising the main muscle groups around the knee is very important both before and after having a total knee replacement. Exercise regularly, for instance for 10 minutes 6-8 a day. Do not spend all of your time exercising or your knee may become inflamed, swollen and painful. It needs a mixture of rest and regular exercise. Which will be to some extent uncomfortable? Taking your painkillers as per your surgeon advice is important here as it will allow you exercise and get your knee going.
What are you aiming for?
It is important to be exactly clear what you are trying to achieve, so you can tailor your exercise and rehabilitation towards this.
*A straight knee
OA knee are often stiff and loss some of their ability to straighten completely as the person holds them slightly bent for comfort. The knee is less stressed in a slightly bent position so we choose this when our knee hurts. If we keep this position up for long enough, the bend becomes permanent and the knee is stiff. The surgeon can correct some of this fixed position in the operation but there may be more work to do to get the knee completely straight after the operation.
*A strong knee
The main knee muscle on the front of the thigh keeps stable when you put your weight on it. It pushes you up stairs and out of a chair and allows you to sit down in controlled manner. Your muscle must be strong enough to fully straighten your knee under load, right to the end of the movement.This gives you good knee control for walking.
*A good bend
Your knee is designed to bend to at least 120 degrees and it is useful to have a good range of bending movement. Knees bend to 70 degrees in normal walking and 110 degrees is necessary to go up and down stairs normally. You can manage with much less bend but it is inconvenient. Physiotherapists do joint mobilization, manipulation, static strengthening, dynamic strengthening, resistance exercises, gait training,stair case climbing and they educate you the home program do’s and don’ts.Physiotherapy helps the patients to get early recovery as well as maximum outcome. Neglected post operative rehabilitation usually cause prolong recovery period and not give complete result.
Do consult your physiotherapist
Dr. Parth
9699321205
www.aayushman.in