Your Recovery at Home

Whether you're recovering at home or in a rehabilitation facility, you need to protect your new knee. Exercise to build strength and increase range of motion. Avoid risky moves. Return to activity slowly, and don't be surprised if your new joint feels a little stiff at first.

Build Muscle Strength

Strong thigh muscles reduce the amount of force placed on your knee. This helps the joint last longer.

Quad Set

• Sit against the head of a bed. Place the leg with the new joint straight out in front of you.
• Tighten the front leg muscles, which pull the kneecap toward your thigh. Then press the back of your leg toward the ground.
• Hold for a count of 5. Repeat as directed.

Improve Joint Motion

Range-of-motion exercises help your new knee bend more smoothly. Practice flexing and extending your knee as you were taught.

Sitting Knee Bends

• Sit in a chair with a towel under the new knee joint.
• Straighten your leg as much as you can. Hold for a count of 5.
• Then bend your leg back as far as you can. Hold for a count of 5.
• Repeat as directed.

See Your Surgeon

Post-op visits allow your surgeon to make sure your knee is healing well. Sutures or staples are often taken out about 2 weeks after surgery.

When to Call Your Surgeon

Call your surgeon if you have any of the symptoms below:

• An increase in knee pain
• Pain or swelling in a calf or leg
• Unusual redness, heat, or drainage at the incision site
• Trouble breathing or chest pain
• Fever over 101?F

Avoiding Risky Moves

Some movements put too much strain on the new joint. This could cause the prosthesis to wear out more quickly. Protect your new joint:

• Do not twist your knee, as can happen when you turn your body without moving your feet.
• Do not perform high-impact activities, such as running, jumping, race walking, or playing basketball.

Returning to Activity

To build strength, practice walking every day. Try to do more each week. But be aware that some days you will feel better than others. You may be ready to drive or return to a desk job about a month after surgery. If you do more active work, you may need to wait 3 or 4 months before going back. Total knee replacement is a major surgery, so don't be surprised if it takes a few months before you feel really good.

	This content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Only your doctor can diagnose and treat a medical problem.
	©1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 The StayWell Company, 1100 Grundy Lane, San Bruno, CA 94066-3030. www.krames.com (800) 333-3032. All rights reserved.
Consultants: Stephen E. Conrad, MD
Contributors: Lynn Gordon, MPH; Susan Carr Hay, PT; Lettie J. Turner, RN, ONC

This content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Only your doctor can diagnose and treat a medical problem. © 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000 The StayWell Company, 1100 Grundy Lane, San Bruno, CA 94066-3030. www.krames.com 800-333-3032. All right reserved.