How to Recover From a Total Knee Replacement
Total knee replacements are an outpatient procedure, with patients typically discharged three to four hours after surgery. While most of your recovery can occur at home, proper rehabilitation is crucial to getting back on your feet and returning to doing the activities you love.
Here’s how to prepare for your knee placement rehabilitation so you can recover quickly and successfully.
Recovering From a Total Knee Replacement
Your recovery from a knee replacement begins immediately. Dr. Cafferky and his team encourage patients to start moving right after surgery. When you leave the hospital, you should be able to ambulate using a mobility aid - such as a walker or crutches.
Some significant milestones for the total knee replacement recovery timeline include:
Walking: On average, patients use assistive walking devices for up to two weeks after surgery. There is a transition between aids, from crutches to a walker to a cane. Patients should be walking completely unassisted six weeks after their total knee replacement.
Driving: Your return to driving depends on the knee replaced. If replacing the left knee, you can usually start driving two to three weeks after surgery. However, a right knee replacement increases that timeline to three to six weeks.
Returning to Work: Patients with more sedate desk jobs can return to work two to four weeks after their total knee replacements. With more physically demanding jobs, patients should plan on taking at least six weeks off.
Returning to Physical Activity: The final phase of a total knee replacement is getting up back to your active lifestyle. Patients typically return to exercises and physical activities, such as biking and hiking, eight to twelve weeks after their total knee replacement.
Remember that every knee is different. Several factors can influence reaching the above milestones, like your health and activity level before surgery.
Physical Therapy After a Total Knee Replacement
Outpatient physical therapy is typically prescribed after discharge and will usually begin within a week of surgery. Dr. Cafferky and his team will walk you through the following:
Knee strengthening exercises
Exercises to increase your knee’s range of motion
Exercises for reducing scar tissue
The goal of these exercises is to increase flexibility and restore strength while promoting healing. Some activities that Team Cafferky typically recommend are:
Quad Squeezes: These strengthen the quadriceps muscles without moving or putting strain on your knee.
Ankle Pumps: Exercising the lower leg muscles stimulate blood flow, decreasing swelling and reducing your risk of blood clots.
Heel Slides: Heel Slides work the quadriceps and hamstrings, helping to rebuild range of motion.
Short Arc Quad: By engaging the four quadricep muscles, these exercises improve your knee’s stability while rebuilding the strength needed for standing and walking.
Knee Extensions: This simple exercise helps improve knee flexibility.
Dozens of knee strengthening exercises may be appropriate for knee replacement patients while unsuitable for others. Dr. Cafferky and his team will develop a physical therapy program tailored to your individual needs.
Scheduling Your Knee Replacement With Colorado’s Premier Surgeon
The timeline for a knee replacement recovery is different for everyone. Dr. Cafferky can walk you through what to expect after your total knee replacement and provide the essential follow-up care for your recovery and rehabilitation.
Schedule your total knee replacement consultation with Colorado’s premier knee surgeon today!
