
21 May Physiotherapy and EARLY Postoperative Total Knee Replacement Exercises
The early postoperative total knee replacement exercises helps:
- To facilitate blood circulation to the legs and feet in order to prevent blood clots
- To strengthen the muscles around the knee
- To encourage knee movement
Physiotherapy Exercises include:
QUADRICEP SETS
Step 1: Lie on a mat on your back
Step 2: Activate and tighten your thigh muscles
Step 3: Hold for 5 seconds
Step 4: Repeat 5-10 times
STRAIGHT LEG RAISE
Step 1: Lie on a mat on your back
Step 2: Place your left foot flat on the floor with your knees bent
Step 3: Ensure your right knee is straight and your toes pointed towards the ceiling
Step 4: Activate and tighten your right thigh muscles, and lift your right leg up towards the ceiling
Step 5: Hold for 5 seconds before slowly lowering your leg back to the floor
Step 6: Repeat 5-10 times
ANKLE PUMPS
Step 1: Lie on your back
Step 2: Move your foot up towards you then away from you
Step 3: Repeat for 2-3 minutes every 2-3 hours
KNEE STRAIGHTENGING EXERCISES
Step 1: Lie on your back
Step 2: Place a small rolled towel under your heel
Step 3: Activate and tighten your thigh muscles, then push the back of your knee into the towel to straighten your knee as much as you can
Step 4: Hold for 5 seconds
Step 5: Repeat 5-10 times
BED SUPPORTED KNEE BENDS
Step 1: Lie on your back
Step 2: Bend your knee with the heel of your foot flat on the bed
Step 3: Slowly slide your foot towards your buttocks
Step 4: Hold your knee in a maximal bent position for 5-10 seconds and slowly straighten to return to natural position
Step 5: Repeat 5-10 times
SITTING SUPPORTED KNEE BENDS
Step 1: Sit on the chair with your back straight
Step 2: Place your foot behind the heel of your operated knee for support
Step 3: Slowly bend your knee as far as you can
Step 4: Hold for 5-10 seconds
Step 5: Repeat 5-10 times
SITTING UNSUPPORTED KNEE BENDS
Step 1: Sit on the chair with your back straight
Step 2: Bend your knee as far as you can until your foot gently rest on the floor
Step 3: With your foot slightly resting on the floor, slide your upper body forward in the chair to increase your knee bent
Step 4: Hold for 5-10 seconds
Step 5: Repeat 5-10 times
WALKING (with assistance and mobility aids)
STAIR ASCENDING AND DESCENDING (with assistance and mobility aids)
Contact us today on (03) 9510 8866 to book a consultation at our Prahran office, where we can understand your specific rehabilitation process.