Total Knee Replacement Rehabilitation
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Do I need to do outpatient therapy?​
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Beginning two weeks after your surgery, you should begin with our physical therapists to ensure you are progressing with your gait, balance, and range of motion of the knee.
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My knee feels stiff. Should I be worried?
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It is common for you to feel stiffness of the knee after surgery. However, it is important to stay on top of this, and work out stiffness in the first several weeks after the surgery, otherwise it is very difficult to regain motion later on in your recovery.
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My knee was very stiff prior to surgery. Will it improve afterwards?
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The strongest predictor of your post-operative range of motion is your pre-operative range of motion. Immediately after surgery, and while still on the operating table, the range of motion can be significantly improved, usually to a near normal arc. However, as your knee heals, scar tissue reforms, which has a tendency to return you to your pre-operative range of motion, and the hard work to retain as much motion as possible is dependent upon you working hard with your therapist.
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Should I go back to the gym?
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It is preferable that you return to activity under the guidance of our therapists, who specialize in the rehabilitation of total joint replacement patients.
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You should avoid high-impact exercises indefinitely to decrease the likelihood of your joint replacement wearing out prematurely.
Total Hip Replacement Rehabilitation
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Do I need outpatient therapy?
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Usually with hip replacements, ambulation is the best and most effective form of rehabilitation. It is helpful to have one session with the therapists around two weeks after your surgery to see if you are ready to begin weaning off your assist device.
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Our therapists are ready to assist you if you feel some supervision would be helpful in continuing your progress.
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Our therapists are also helpful in guiding you on hip precautions, usually only requiring one or two sessions.
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What are my hip precautions?
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The majority of hip replacement patients will undergo an anterior approach surgical technique. With Dr. Lee's anterior approach, no specific hip precautions are necessary.
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How long do I need to use my walker/crutches/cane?
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You should use full support for the first two weeks after surgery. Around two weeks, you will meet with our therapists to see if you can begin to wean off your assist device as tolerated or transition to the next level of assist.
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Can I participate in yoga?
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Yes. Yoga does, however, place joints at extremes of motion that could theoretically place your hip in danger of dislocation even with an anterior approach. If yoga is an important activity to you, arrange for a session with our therapists to review what the most precarious positions are for anterior hip replacement dislocations.
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I am sexually active. Will certain positions place my hip replacement in danger of dislocation?
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No. If you have specific concerns, arrange for a session with our therapists to review what the most precarious positions are for anterior hip replacement dislocations.
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