90 degrees is the same thing as a right angle. If you achieve 90 degrees by one week, and continue to push forward after this, you will end up with excellent range of motion of your knee replacement. Most of our patients end up with 120 to 125 degrees of flexion.
End of week 1: the goal is to reach at least 90° of knee flexion and be working towards full knee extension. Weeks 2-3: the goal is to achieve at least 100° knee flexion and full knee extension. Weeks 4-6: you should be approaching or have already achieved 110-120° of full knee flexion.
You should also practise bending your knee – by the time you leave hospital, you should be able to bend your knee between 70 – 90 degrees. It's important not to overextend yourself during the recovery process.
Knee Flexion ROM: 135o i.e. fully bent. Knee Extension ROM: 0o i.e. fully straight.
Much of the lack of knee flexion immediately after surgery is not only due to pain, but also knee swelling or edema in response to the surgery.
It is common for 2 weeks to 3 months following the surgery.
The typical recovery trajectory demonstrates flexion AROM between 70 and 90 degrees (interquartile range) immediately following surgery, 95–115 degrees 1 month following surgery, and 109–122 degrees 3 months following surgery.
Most patients can start walking while still in the hospital. Walking helps deliver important nutrients to your knee to help you heal and recover. You can expect to use a walker for the first couple of weeks. Most patients can walk on their own roughly four to eight weeks after knee replacement.
It is important to avoid crossing your legs after knee replacement surgery as this can put undue stress on the new joint and cause pain. Instead, keep your legs slightly apart and avoid any activities that require crossing them for at least six weeks.
The majority of patients expect to be able to kneel after TKR,2,4,5 however, these expectations are frequently not met,1,6 with between 50% and 80% of patients reporting that they have difficulty kneeling or do not kneel in the months and years after TKR.
The biggest challenge in the early recovery of a TKR (up to 3 months postoperative) is the regaining of knee motion.
You shouldn't downhill ski or play contact sports such as football and soccer. In general, avoid sports that require jerking, twisting, pulling, or running. You should be able to do lower-impact activities, such as hiking, gardening, swimming, playing tennis, and golfing.
Answer: Immediately after surgery you will learn to climb stairs safely using crutches. As recovery continues and you work on flexion and extension of the new knee, you will be able to climb without crutches. With the help of physical therapy and building up the quadriceps muscles, stair climbing will be a breeze.
Can I squat or kneel? Half squats for exercise are acceptable. Deep squatting is neither usually possible nor desirable after a knee replacement. Kneeling is not harmful but may not be comfortable.
Urinary tract infection: Infection to your urinary tract can occur after having surgery. Symptoms include burning and frequent urination, as well as blood in your urine. Fever and weakness may also occur.
Can you sleep on your side after knee replacement surgery? You can, but it's wise not to do so until at least a few weeks after surgery, when you can start bending your knee. Make sure you lay on your non-operative side. Sleeping this way makes sure no pressure falls on the knee you had surgery on.
Recliners and sofas are not recommended after your knee or hip replacement because they are not supportive, difficult to get out of and can limit range of motion. Straight back chairs with arm rests are suggested for safety.
Your orthopaedic surgeon and physical therapist may recommend that you exercise for 20 to 30 minutes daily, or even 2 to 3 times daily; and walk for 30 minutes, 2 to 3 times daily during your early recovery.
Within 2-3 weeks post surgery, you should be able to walk a short distance – or for around 10 minutes – without depending on a mobility aid.
Don't Overdo It
Although exercise is the key to healing, you could be backpedaling progress by overworking your knee.
While outpatient therapy may end after about four months post-surgery, Luppino tells his patients they should keep doing their prescribed exercise program two or three times a week until at least eight or 10 months post-op.
Furthermore, with the advent of joint prostheses coated with hydroxyapatite, which work by promoting primary bone formation to fill the gap between the prosthesis and the host bone, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be counterproductive.
Knee stiffness and pain that can occur after a knee replacement may be because of scar tissue and collagen attaching to the knee implant.