Are you recovering from knee replacement surgery and wondering how long it will take you to return to your regular activities? Knee replacement is usually a safe surgical procedure. However, the patients must take all the necessary precautions recommended by the doctor to heal and recover properly. In today’s blog, we will discuss the exercises that will help in faster recovery after knee replacement and help strengthen and mobilise your surgical knee faster.
Why it is essential to do exercises after Knee Replacement
After you have undergone a partial or total knee replacement surgery, the range of motions is the most important outcome that defines the success of the surgery and functional ability. Range of motion is the amount of motions your joints can make after surgery. These motions typically involve walking, climbing stairs, descending stairs, etc.
The quadriceps muscle strength is another important metric that defines the success of the surgery. The quadriceps muscles help you to stand from a seated position. Post-surgery, it is common for people to experience loss of muscle strength in the quadriceps, and pain and stiffness in their knee. The patients must do specific exercises as suggested by their physiotherapist to gain quadriceps muscle strength and improve their range of motion.
Exercises for faster recovery after Knee Replacement surgery in Delhi
After the knee replacement surgery, improving functional ability and increasing the strength of the quadriceps muscle is necessary. After your knee replacement surgery in Delhi, you can consult a physiotherapist who can help you in performing the exercises as recommended. Here are some exercises you must do in the early phase of your recovery.
Straight Leg Raises
This exercise helps to tighten the muscles on the top of the thigh and enhance functional mobility. While lying on your back, keep one knee bent and keep the surgical knee straight. Then, lift your knee as high as you can without bending it. It is advised to complete 3 sets of 15 repetitions each.
Ankle Pumps
Ankle pumps help to reduce the inflammation of the leg that has undergone surgery and provide strength to the quadriceps muscles. This exercise involves pumping your feet up and down while hinging at the ankle while lying flat on the bed. You can repeat this exercise multiple times in a day.
Supported Squats
Supported or wall squats help in strengthening the muscles. After your knee replacement surgery, physiotherapists recommend doing supported squats rather than freestanding squats because the muscles are weak.
Put a table in front of you, place your hands on it and use it as a support. Then, slowly bend your knees at an angle of 60 degrees and push up to straighten your knees. Complete the 3 sets of 12 reps each.
Step flexion stretches
To improve the range of motion, step flexion stretches are essential as they enhance functional ability. In the standing position, raise your surgical leg onto a step and bend forward into the stretch while holding a support (wall or railing) for balance. Hold the stretch for 30-40 seconds and repeat this process 3-4 times.
This exercise helps with bending and moving the new knee.
Active knee extension over a roll
Active knee extension over a roll helps to strengthen the quadriceps muscles and improve the knee extension. While sitting on the floor, put a rolled towel under your ankle and straighten your surgical knee as much as you can. Complete 2 sets of 25 repetitions each. This exercise helps to enhance flexibility and improve overall knee function.
Step-ups
Physiotherapists recommend performing this exercise as it helps in regaining the strength, balance and coordination that is required to perform daily activities. Stand up in front of a box or a stair. Step on the box with your surgical leg, and then follow with the normal leg. Step back down with your non-surgical leg, leaving your surgical leg on the box. Repeat this for 2 sets of 10 reps.
Step-down
Step-down helps provide strength to the healing muscles and helps them gain stability after knee replacement surgery. Put both legs on a box or a stair. Put the surgical leg on the stairs and step down with your non-surgical leg. Combine this exercise with Step-ups to improve functional ability and balance. Complete 2 sets of 10 repetitions.
Seated leg extension
Seated leg extension helps in strengthening the quadriceps muscles and improves the knee mobility and overall function of the new knees.
To perform this, start by sitting straight with your legs touching the ground. Start by contracting your quadriceps muscles to straighten the surgical knee as much as you can, and complete the process by returning your leg to the starting position. Complete 10 repetitions of 3 sets.
Heel Slides
To perform this exercise, lie on your on a flat surface, then bend your normal knee. Then, gently put your surgical knee towards your bottom for a few seconds, and then return your leg to the straight position. Repeat this process for 5-6 times.
Heel slides help to reduce stiffness and inflammation post-surgery, promote circulation, and increase knee mobility.
Double Leg bridges
Double-leg bridges help to provide stability and support to the knee joint and provide strength to the muscles and lower back after the surgery. Begin by lying on your back with both knees bent, then slowly push your feet down towards the floor and lift your butt off the floor until your hips are straight. Slowly lower it back down to the normal position. Complete three sets of 10 repetitions each.
Assisted knee flexion using a towel
This exercise is recommended by physiotherapists to improve the range of motion and functional ability after knee replacement. To perform this exercise, start by lying on the ground and warping the bottom of your ankle using a towel or a bedsheet. Hold both ends of the towel/bedsheet with your hands. Then, slowly bend your surgical knee as much as you can while sliding your heel towards your butt and bringing the towel up towards your chest. It is advised to complete 2 sets of 25 repetitions.
Stationary bike ride
This is a simple, low-impact exercise that helps to achieve a range of motion after a knee replacement surgery. It also helps in regaining the strength of the quadricep muscles and improves overall functionality. Start the exercise by adjusting your seat in a way that your knee is slightly bent when you push the pedal. Start with slow pedalling initially; you can move forward and backwards. The physiotherapists suggest to do this exercise for 30 minutes every day.
If you are suffering from severe pain and inflammation due to arthritis or injury, you must visit a knee replacement surgeon in Delhi. Dr Simon Thomas is an experienced orthopaedic surgeon and provides advanced knee replacement surgery in Delhi. His advanced and tailored solutions for patients help them recover quickly. In order to get customised assistance with your knee replacement recovery, visit Dr Simon Thomas in Delhi.
