| Rehabilitation following: |
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Exercise forms an important part of the recovery process following
knee replacement. The programme will depend upon the type of operation
that you have had.
There are a few basic principles that can be followed in the early
stages for every operation.
- Decrease pain
- Reduce and minimise swelling
- Restore normal range of movement
- Encourage normal muscle function and strength
- Progress rehabilitation allowing return to normal function
Pain and swelling are important to control as soon as possible as
both of these will effect the amount of knee movement. When resting,
it is important to raise the leg with the knee supported to reduce
swelling. This can be improved by intermittently moving the ankle
up and down, squeezing your thigh muscle and tightening your buttock
muscles whilst in this position.
Ice can be used to help reduce swelling in your knee and is often
good for pain relief. Ideally, this should be applied in elevation
for a period up to 20 minutes and repeated several times per day in
the early stages
Exercises should be done little and often with a good balance of rest
in between. Early mobilisation is important to try and achieve a good
range of movement and to activate the muscles supporting your new
knee.
The exercises below will help you start this process.
Sit with your legs out in front of you, preferably resting your heels
on a sliding surface. Put a sling (towel, sheet etc.) around your
foot then bend your knee using the sling, as far as it will comfortably
go.
Hold it there for a few seconds before straightening the leg. Repeat
20 times.
Sit with your legs straight out in front of you and pull you toes
upwards. Tense the thigh muscles to try and push the back of your
knee against the underlying surface.
Hold for 10 seconds and repeat 10 times.
If you find this difficult try it first on the other leg as often
a reminder of the feeling prompts a better response when you try it
again on the injured leg.
Sitting with your legs out in front of you place a rolled up towel
under your knee.
Push your knee down onto the towel whilst digging your heel into the
surface below. You should feel the muscles at the front and back of
the thigh working together.
Hold that position for 10 seconds and repeat 10 times.
To progress this, repeat the whole process over two, then three rolls
to increase the degree of bend at the knee.
Sit on a chair and straighten the injured knee pulling your toes up
towards you.
Tense your thigh holding that position for 10 seconds and repeat 10
times.
Sit with your legs straight out in front of you and tense the thigh
muscle on the injured leg. Turn your foot out slightly and then lift
the straight leg up about 3 inches off the bed.
Hold for a few seconds before lowering - repeating the exercise 10
times.
As this gets easier to do you should not need to rest the leg down
in between repetitions. If you are unable to keep the knee straight
during the whole of the exercise it means you are not ready to do
this one yet.
The exercises will progress on the advice of your physiotherapist
according to individual need.
These
rehabilitation guidelines have been prepared with the help of Gill
Cannon and Rachel Galley (Physio Action Ltd. – at David Lloyd
Centre, Leeds and Cannons Gym, Harrogate)
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