Knee Exercises before Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Strengthening program: Knee exercises before total
knee replacement surgery
You may have discovered that you've been less active because of
your knee joint discomfort. When muscles aren't used, they
become weak and don't perform well in supporting and moving
your body.


Having your knee replacement surgery will correct the joint
problem, but you will need a regular exercise program to
strengthen your muscles and properly support your new joint.


Beginning an exercise program before your surgery can greatly
enhance your recovery period. Make sure to do the exercises
on both sides to build strength.


Because everyone responds to exercise differently, you need to
be the judge of how much exercise you can do each day. If an
exercise causes an increase in joint discomfort, stop doing
that exercise.


You should try to exercise one to two times a day, every day,
before surgery. Do five repetitions of each exercise. If you are
comfortable with the exercise, increase the repetitions by five
each week until you reach 20 repetitions (week one: 5 to 10
repetitions, week two: 10 to 15 repetitions and week three: 15 to
20 repetitions).


For the most comfort, do the exercises lying down. Your bed is an
excellent place to do your exercises.


!
Ankle pumps and circles


Bend both your ankles up, pulling your toes toward you, then
bend both your ankles down, pointing your toes away from you.
In addition, rotate each foot clockwise and counterclockwise,
keeping your toes pointed toward the ceiling.





!
Thigh squeezes (quadriceps sets)


Tighten the muscles in front of your thigh by pushing the back of
your knee down into the bed. Hold for 5 seconds and relax.
Repeat with opposite leg.




!
Heel slides (hip and knee flexion)


Bend your hip and knee by sliding your heel up toward your
buttocks while keeping your heel on the bed. Slide your heel back
down to the starting position. Keep your kneecap pointed up
toward the ceiling during the exercise. You may want to use a
plastic bag under your heel to help it slide easier. Repeat with
opposite leg.




!
Leg slides (abduction/adduction)


Slide your leg out to the side, keeping your kneecap pointed up
toward the ceiling. Slide your leg back to return to the starting
position. You may want to use a plastic bag under your heel to
help it slide easier. Repeat with opposite leg.




!
Lying kicks (short arc quadriceps)


Lie on your back with a 3-pound coffee can or rolled blanket
under your knee. Straighten your knee. Hold for 5 seconds.
Slowly lower your leg down and relax. The back of your knee
should stay in contact with the can/blanket throughout the
exercise. Repeat with opposite leg.




!
Straight leg raises


Bend one of your legs with your foot flat on the bed. Raise your
opposite leg up (about 12 inches), keeping your knee straight.
Hold briefly. Progress to holding for 5 seconds. Slowly lower your
leg down and relax. Repeat with opposite leg.




!
Bed mobility exercise

Lie flat on your back. Come up on both elbows. Straighten arms
out behind you and come to a sitting position. Lower yourself
down onto your elbows again, then down to lying flat.




!
Knee bending (sitting knee flexion)


Sit on a chair. Bend your knee back as much as you can. Hold for
________ seconds. Return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat 5 times.




!
Sitting kicks (long arc quads)


Sit in a sturdy chair. Lift your foot, straightening your knee as
much as possible. Try to keep your knees level, as if you were
holding a tray on your lap. Hold for 5 seconds. Slowly lower your
leg down and relax. Return to the starting position and repeat
with opposite leg.




!
Chair push up


Sit on a sturdy chair with arms or in a wheelchair. Grasp the
arms of the chair. Push down on the chair arms, straightening
your elbows so that you raise your buttocks off the seat of the
chair. Hold for 5 seconds. Lower yourself slowly back into the
chair. If your arms are weak at first, use your legs to help raise
your buttocks off the chair.





!
Optional: Hamstring sets (heel digs)


Bend your involved knee a little and tighten the muscle on the
back of your thigh by digging your heel into the bed. Hold for 5
seconds.





!
Optional: Buttocks squeezes (gluteal sets)


Tighten your buttocks muscles by squeezing the muscles
together. Hold for 5 seconds.