High-contact sports like football, hockey, soccer, and martial arts are discouraged since they feature rough motions that can loosen and wear down your implants. Loosening and instability remain the top reasons for revising total knee arthroplasty (TKA), a study shows.
Even though you will be able to resume most activities, you may want to avoid doing things that place excessive stress on your "new" knee, such as participating in high-impact activities like jumping, jogging, or skiing.
Lower impact sports, such as biking, swimming, elliptical, skiing, doubles tennis, hiking or golfing, are going to be much better for the longevity of a replacement. Additionally, a knee replacement does not have the same sensation and feeling as a native knee.
After a total knee replacement, is it possible to get back to sport? Yes. Here is why it is important that you do. Total knee replacement should actually help athletes become more active.
A recent survey of knee replacement experts showed that the majority say that patients can safely go back to jogging and running after knee replacements.
After your knee replacement surgery, it is important to remember that you should not cross your legs at any time.
Patients are often most surprised to learn that they are not only permitted to lift weights but are encouraged to lift weights after receiving a joint replacement. In fact, lifting weights is the best thing a patient can do for the prolonged life of their artificial joint.
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.
Returning to Sports
It takes about 3 - 4 months for patients to be able to perform all their work-type activities. Getting back to sports can take longer – 6 months on average - with a more gradual progression.
Although exercise is the key to healing, you could be backpedaling progress by overworking your knee. Signs of over-exercising include swelling of the entire leg and lingering pain that stretches into the evening or into the next day. Contact your doctor if you see any warning signs of a possible infection.
One of the most common problems people experience after knee replacement is a stiff knee joint. 1 This can cause difficulty with activities that require a lot of bending, including going down stairs, sitting in a chair, or getting out of a car.
Muscle strength loss has been reported in the hip abductors and adductors as well as the hip flexors and extensors following orthopedic surgeries in the knee, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.
Many orthopedic surgeons will allow their patients to return to tennis once they've recovered but with certain precautions. Always follow your orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist's recommendations for the approximate time frame as to when you can start playing tennis.
The biggest challenge in the early recovery of a TKR (up to 3 months postoperative) is the regaining of knee motion. We will send a physical therapist to your house to help you with the walking, knee exercises, and gentle manipulation of the knee.
Even if you're able to return to full normal after your surgery, you'll need to mind your artificial knee for the rest of your life. Avoid lifting anything more than 20 pounds. That can stress the joint too much. Don't jerk the leg with the implant.
The majority of patients are 90% recovered after 3 months, though it can take 6 months or longer before they are 100% recovered. Some knee replacement patients do not follow the typical recovery timeline.
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.
Barring any complications, most patients are able to return to most normal activities and walk without the need of assistive devices between three to six weeks after surgery. Overall, it usually takes two to three months to make a complete recovery from a minimally invasive knee replacement.
Contact Sports. High-contact sports like football, hockey, soccer, and martial arts are discouraged since they feature rough motions that can loosen and wear down your implants.
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. Report any of these signs to your doctor.
Researchers recorded the stress placed on knees during downhill walking, they found it to be quite high. For downhill hikes after total knee replacement surgery, they suggest walking slowly to reduce the burden on the knee joint.
After a conventional implant for Total Knee Replacement, a person can typically walk comfortably and his knee joint will have a good range ofmotion. However, sitting cross-legged and squatting is not advised.