A knee replacement can give you years of pain-free walking — but the physiotherapy after surgery is what decides how well your new knee bends, straightens and carries you. Every surgeon’s protocol is a little different, so always follow your own surgeon’s advice. This is a general guide to what most patients can expect.
The first two weeks
- Gentle exercises to straighten and bend the knee
- Controlling swelling with elevation and ice, as advised
- Walking with a walker or stick, short distances, several times a day
- Learning to get in and out of bed, chairs and the toilet safely
Many patients prefer home-visit physiotherapy during this stage.
Weeks 3 to 6
- Steadily improving knee bend
- Strengthening the thigh and hip muscles
- Moving from a walker to a stick, then walking independently
- Practising stairs
Weeks 6 to 12
- Building strength, balance and walking distance
- Returning to most daily activities
- Clinic-based exercise in our rehab gym speeds up progress at this stage
Warning signs — call your surgeon
Contact your surgeon promptly if you notice calf pain or swelling, fever, redness or discharge from the wound, or sudden severe pain.
How families can help
Encourage regular exercise (little and often is best), keep walkways clear to prevent falls, and come along to a session to learn how to help safely.
Our post-surgery rehabilitation team works closely with your surgeon’s protocol, at our Thalaghattapura and J P Nagar clinics or at home.