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A rehabilitation program is an important part of the recovery after knee replacement. The program is designed to restore your strength and range of motion. It is very important to regain your range of motion early in the recovery after knee replacement.
You should be able to straighten your knee completely and bend it to at least 90 degrees (leg is straight down when sitting in a chair) by the 2 week mark after surgery.
This post-operative protocol is a general guideline that you can follow to ensure that you are progressing properly after your surgery. Remember that every person is different, and your specific progression through the protocol may be faster or slower. Work closely with your physical therapist to ensure that your rehabilitation is successful. Please call us if you have any questions about the protocol.
Click on the exercises listed below for a description and video of how to perform the exercise.
| Exercise | Week 1-2 | Week 3-4 | Week 5-6 | Week 5-6 | Week 7-8 | Week 9-12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ankle Pumps | ||||||
| Thigh Squeeze | ||||||
| Buttock Squeeze | ||||||
| Heel Slides | ||||||
| Knee Extensions | ||||||
| Seated Knee Flexion & Extension | ||||||
| Sit to Stand | ||||||
| Calf Raises | ||||||
| Scooting Knee Bend | ||||||
| Gravity Knee Bend | ||||||
| Two-Chair Stretch | ||||||
| Mini-Squats | ||||||
| Forward Step Lunge | ||||||
| Forward Step Up | ||||||
| Standing Quad Stretch |