Knee Replacement Rehab

Physical Therapist JC Sales, of ATI Physical Therapy in Woodridge, IL, demonstrates four useful exercises that can help knee replacement patients begin their recovery after surgery.

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Transcript

What I'd like to start off with, especially post-op week one, they're going to be doing exercises for their knee to straighten it first. For instance, you could roll up a little hand towel like this - you could put it under their knee, like so. And what they do, they can keep this other leg bent so it doesn't create too much pressure on their back. And then, what you do, you point your toes up like so. Then you squeeze down to squish the towel behind your knee. You straighten it out, you start to activate these muscles over here in front of your knee. You typically hold it there for five seconds, count then you relax. Then you press down again, 1-2-3-4-5, and then relax.

Another exercise I like to do for post-op week one, is called a 'heel slide.' We can either do it active or assisted meaning you helping, or you doing it on your own actively. When you do it with help, you can put a towel like so around your feet, then what you do is you help bend it up so then you get to the point where it's not too much pain. Typically after post-op, there will be a lot of pain. Then let it rest down all they way, like this. So this helps guard it, not let it drop out to the side. So you can keep bending it up, like so. Hold it for three seconds, 1-2-3, then relax and let it down like so. Nice and controlled is key.

Once we get you more stronger on the bed, then you're demonstrating better control of leg muscles and things, we'll get you out of the bed. Starting with some general weight shifts: side to side, forward and back, like so. So your joints can get the sense and the  feeling of putting pressure on it again.

When you progress even further, then we can go into more of this type of exercise. Where we can activate and increase your flexibility. Knees you can increase the strength especially these muscles here. Those quadriceps, and have a little bit more control on those as well. So you can do this with a swiss ball behind your back, just go up and down nice and gentle. Depending how far, or how deep you want to go. We generally go to your tolerance. And back up.