Best Knee Replacement Surgeons | Regaining Mobility After Knee Replacement

Noyes Knee Institute Signature

Published On

Aug 2, 2021

Category

Patient Education

Are you about to get knee replacement surgery but don’t know what to expect from the recovery process? A specialized therapy plan is crucial to your knee surgery’s overall success. That’s why you’ll need to seek the best knee replacement surgeons who’ll support you at every step.

At Noyes Knee Institute, we know how crucial it is to provide you with the right recovery plan. This helps ensure you’re able to move and live pain-free.

Today, we’ll discuss what the recovery process looks like and how you can regain mobility after knee replacement.

How Soon Can You Walk Or Stand After Surgery?

You’ll begin to stand and walk just hours after surgery. Movement is key towards a successful recovery.

The first step will be to take short walks. This can be from your bed to the bathroom or around your room. Within 24 hours, you’ll have your first physical therapy session to strengthen your knee and add mobility to your new joint.

How Long Will You Need Physical Therapy?

Physical therapists will use a diverse range of exercises and education to help you achieve three things.

  • Body strength
  • Knowing how to avoid injury
  • Learning how to use your new knee

Therapy plans vary with each patient, but here’s what you can expect at each time frame.

First Month After Surgery

During this frame, your therapist will focus on helping you reduce your pain and feel more confident on your feet. They’ll have you work on a daily routine of mobility exercises such as these.

  • Bending your knee 90 degrees.
  • Fully straightening your knee
  • Walking for 10 straight minutes

You can expect to use assistive devices like crutches during this phase.

After a few weeks, you may be able to progress to only needing a cane or not needing a device. You’ll also be able to return to work during that time.

Second Month After Surgery

In the second month, your knee should feel more comfortable as your pain declines. During this phase, you’ll go through these types of low-impact activities.

  • Bending your knee 120 degrees.
  • Climbing stairs
  • Cycling
  • Taking long walks
  • Swimming

This helps improve your endurance so you can get back to your normal activities.

Third Month After Surgery

After two months, you’ll be much more mobile in comparison to the first month.  During the final phase, you’ll do more intense aerobic exercises to increase strength and mobility. If you do high-impact activities like running, you’ll want to work your way up towards your normal activity level. This allows you to enjoy them safely while you recover.

Your frequency of in-person therapy sessions decreases after three months, but you should continue those therapy exercises at home.

Will I Feel Pain During The Recovery Process?

Most patients have some level of swelling and pain for weeks. Doctors may prescribe a combination of the following to help manage your pain.

  • Cold compresses to reduce knee swelling.
  • Massages to reduce inflammation
  • NSAID drugs
  • Over the counter meds like Aleve or Tylenol

This will help make your physical therapy process a more comfortable one.

Choose The Best Knee Replacement Surgeons To Help You Feel Strong

Having the right physical therapy plan is important to help you through your recovery process. At Noyes Knee Institute, we’ll create a plan that best helps your mobility.

To learn more about recovering from a knee replacement, make an appointment with us today. We have the best knee replacement surgeons who’ll provide you with the support you need. Dr. Noyes and his team stand ready to help you achieve a more active, pain-free life.