Total Knee Replacement Exercises - Ask Doctor Jo

For the first exercise, you will sit in a chair. Start with your leg out in a comfortable position slightly in front of you. Keep your heel down on the ground, and slowly slide it back towards the chair. You can use a towel under your foot if you need to slide easier. Your heel will try to come up, but really try to keep it down. Do about 10 of these and then take a break. Then you can add a foot pump to the exercise. Again slide your heel back some, and then pump your toes up and down. This will put a little more bend in your knee, and then after about five pumps, slide it back more. Repeat this as far back as you can.

The next exercise will help you get extension in your knee, or straighten it out. Using another chair or coffee table, prop your leg up so your leg is in alignment with your hips. Your knee might not be straight yet. This is usually the hardest one to get back. With your leg propped up, push downward on your thigh just above your knee. So don’t press on your knee joint, but slightly above. Try to hold it for 5-10 seconds. If you are having a really hard time with the motion, you can put a plastic bag right above your knee and put soup or vegetable cans in the bag for constant pressure.

Now you are going to get on the ground. If you can’t get up off the ground yet, you can do these in your bed. You are going to do a heel slide again, but lying down this time. Prop up your good knee and put your surgery knee straight out. Still keeping your heel down when you slide, pull it towards your body as far as you can, and then slide back down. You can do about 10 of these. If you want to get a better stretch, then you can use a strap, dog leash, or belt to get some extra bend in the knee. Place the strap on your shin and make sure it won’t slide off. Then use the strap to pull your knee towards you while you are doing the heel slide.

The last stretch is a quad set. This time you want to straighten out your knee again. While lying down, you are going to try to push your knee down into the ground as hard as you can. To do this, you are activating your quad muscle. If you need a target for your knee, roll up a towel and place it under your knee. While you are squeezing your quad muscle to push the knee down, you can also pull your toes up towards you to activate the calf muscle. Try to told these for 5- 10 seconds and do 10 of them.

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Knee Strengthening Exercises & Stretches:

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Doctor Jo is a licensed Physical Therapist and Doctor of Physical Therapy.

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Total Knee Replacement Exercises:

DISCLAIMER: This video and any related comments are not medical advice. Doctor Jo is a licensed Physical Therapist and Doctor of Physical Therapy; however, she is not YOUR Physical Therapist and can't possibly diagnose you through the Internet. So don't use this information to avoid going to your own healthcare professional or to replace the advice they have given you. This information should not be used to self-diagnose or self-treat any medical condition. If you are not properly diagnosed, this information won't help, and it could make things worse. If you experience any pain, stop immediately and see your healthcare professional.

[AskDoctorJo]

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[sswilkins]

Hi, Doctor Joe.I've just come from hospital after having a total knee replacement. I did some physio in the hospital when I was feeling a bit delirious. But when I got home I was Clueless as to what exercises to do. Your exercises are very well explained. Showed me how to do them and why i should do them. Thank you very much.

[rikjohnson]

I had double knee replacement 6 days ago. Both were partials. While I'm 60 years old, I've kept myself in good physical shape my whole life so I'm happy to be able to go through these exercises with relative ease. Anyone thinking of having this surgery done, best thing you can do is get yourself in the best shape you can beforehand.

[lisamason]

Hey Jo!!! As always love your videos and information. I am getting a new knee on August 8th so I'm visiting your site to know what to expect. Thanks for all you do!

[royktubeyou]

This is the second time you've helped me. Thank you Doc!

[VanessaWright-zjwc]

Thank you! I am 6 weeks out from total knee replacement surgery and these exercises really help in between my regular therapy sessions. I will use them several times a day. Thanks agsin!!!

[rickthom]

Thank you for this video. My knee is killing me, I just hope the pain I feel now will be somewhere else after the operation. I will follow you and update again after taking the plunge.

[laylaali]

Dr Jo i just come across your site i had knee surgery almost three months ago with lots of pain esp when walking been doing your excercise and my bending is much better coming to 90

[jayclark]

Thank you I’m getting one SOON this will definitely get me going again and I will do my best to push myself again THANK You 😊

[newlifekids]

My grandma loves this she uses it for her total knee

[maurap.]

tomorrow will be 1 week since surgery, glad I found you and your video

[rupendrakaur]

is there any complication with this knee? What should i do?

[danielhartin]

Just a personal input here. On July 18 I'm scheduled to have a double knee transplant. I was given the oprion of two separate operations or having both replaced in one procedure, I opted for the latter. My main concern aside from infection is post op blood clots.

[davidspriggs]

Could you do a set for double knee replacement?

[shelandaflowers]

Hello Dr. Jo,
I am 2 weeks in from my total knee replacement. I wish you were my PT. This video was a great help to me. What can I do to help lift my leg?

[ramakrishnamaddula]

Hello Dr JO
My mother had total knee replacement surgery 20 days back. She is taking PT regularly but she is unable to lift the leg up and had both heavy pain and swelling on one side of leg and also in foot.
Can you suggest me any excercise to reduce her pain?

[petez_el_aventurero]

excellentmvideo, my mom has total knee surgery 1 week ago. she is able to sit up with knee at 90°. it is painiful.for her but she appreciated the exercises

[alyciayoung]

Dr. Jo, I'm 7 weeks post op, and had to stop therapy due to the Coronavirus. I've added riding the stationary bike to my exercises but it's hard me to determine progress. When I stopped therapy, I was bending at 108%. It's still swollen around my knee, and gets stiff and hard throughout the day, and pains at night. Where should I be after having a total knee replacement after 7 weeks?

[clifforddaniels]

I just had my knee replacement surgery thanks for your help dear

[gerardoschwarz]

Hello Dr Jo, congrats on your videos. I’m 67 year old male, always active in running, cycling, etc. I tore my right meniscus in late december and to avoid surgery, I started ph therapy in gym and swimming, hoping for a miracle. I HAD MY Dr inyect SynVisc One. Relief was temporary. I started considering PRP, but have given up on alternative treatments since pain is constant and walking is difficult.

My question for you is to validate my train of thought regarding TKR vs Arthoscopy. I figure why go thru two operations / Ph therapies, when TKR is what I will end up doing after a few years. How do I know if I qualify for a TKR and what are the disadvantages.