07 May HOME EXERCISES AFTER KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY – SECTION 1

HOME EXCERCISES AFTER KNEE REPLACEMENT (PART 1 )

Knee pain due to arthritis can be very depressing and for severe arthritis you would have undergone knee replacement surgery.

Following exercises help the knee Joint by strengthening the muscles in Ankle to  hip joints. It is something like strengthening  the chain muscles running from top ( spine / low back ) to foot . These exercises should be done in a relaxed way and if joint swelling or pain increases apply ice pack over the joint.The sequence of the following exercises run from Ankle to gluteal region. The following are  3 key exercises for knee in lying down on bed or on the floor.

Ankle pump exercises.

These exercise can be started as soon as you are out of the operation theatre. This one exercises if its done judiciously maintains a good flow of flood from foot to the heart. This exercise keeps the calf muscles active. Calf muscles are like the peripheral heart pumping blood back to the body. In lying down posture move your Ankle up & down are shown in the picture below. You should try and reach all the way up & down while doing it.
 Knee  QExercises.

This one exercises work like Magic bullet. I have found this exercise gives extraordinary results. Q stands for Quadriceps muscles. Four muscles that work against gravity, thereby makes us to stand and push our body forward in running, jogging and keeps the knee straight in standing posture. If your Quadriceps muscle is strong it can postpone the progress of knee arthritis also Hence this is useful for patient with Knee arthritis and after  knee replacement surgery as well.

Keep a folded towel under your knee in lying down on bed or floor.

• Push your knee down by Contracting the muscles of the front aspect of thigh and hold it in the contracted position for 10 seconds and as you do it see to it the foot comes up toward the ceiling.
• Do this exercises for 10 times Morning &Night.
• You can do it in the evening also.

Keep a folded towel under your Ankle in lying down on bed or floor Push your knee down by tightening the muscle on the front of the thigh.

• Try to touch the bed or the floor.
• Hold it in that position for 10 seconds.
• Repeat it ten times twice a day.

Straight Leg Rise “Rise your Leg up”

• In lying down posture tighten your thigh muscles and lift your foot 1 foot above the bed.
• The important aspect isthat you should keep your knee straight.
• Hold it in that position for 10 seconds and then lower the leg. Repeat it 10 times. Twice a day.

Its preferable to do these exercises on empty stomach or two hours post meal. All these exercises should be done in a relaxed way. The same exercises should be done for opposite side also. These three exercises when done regularly can post pone the progression of knee arthritis and also these exercises are very important exercises especially after knee replacement.People who are going  for knee Replacement these exercises help you very much in, after- surgery recovery and walking.

HOME EXCERCISES AFTER KNEE REPLACEMENT (PART 2 )

1.Knee Stretching Exercises:
Sitting in a chair straighten your knee as much as you can, try to make the kneestraightas much aspossible.

Hold the knee straight for 10 seconds then slowly lower the ankle.Repeat it10 times, thrice a day.
As you get stronger you can add weights to your Ankle from 1 kg to 5 kg to increase resistance

2. Knee Stretching with another chair:

Place your ankle with leg on another chair. Tighten the front of thigh muscles to push the knee towards the floor.

Hold it in that position for 10 seconds. Repeat it 10 times, thrice a day. Then slowly release the muscle tension.

3. Knee Bending Exercises:

Sitting in chair.
Cross your legs with the good leg in front.
Use your front ankle to push your surgery leg further back.
Hold it in that position for 10 seconds. Repeat it 10 times, thrice a day.

HOME EXCERCISES AFTER KNEE REPLACEMENT (PART 3)

1. Knee Bending Exercise

In standing posture hold on to a stable chair for support. Bend your knee by standing on the other leg, and try to reach your thigh.

Hold it in that position for 5 seconds. Repeat it 10 times, thrice a day

2. Hip Bending Exercises

In standing position hold on to a stable chair or Table for support. Then slowly bend your hip as  shown in the picture  towards the shoulder.

Hold it for 5 seconds & than slowly bring your foot to the ground.
Repeat it 10 times, thrice a day.

Dr.Naveen Thiyagu Bashingam ,M.S Ortho.,

Fellowship in Joint Replacement, Double Fellowship in Arthroscopy & Sports (GERMANY)