After a TKR are you likely to get more bend than you had before the op? What limits the bend?
Yes, lots more bend, only limited by lack of excersicing after surgery.
Ah, right, thank you! The operated knee has now caught up the unoperated knee and I didn't know if that was as much as I'd be able to achieve, so I'll keep at it then:-))))
Hi Chris. Yes u should get more bend but just keep in mind sometimes it takes as long as it took to lose the bend you had before surgery. Do your exercises!!
Yes, more bend (at least we all hope)
Limitations: previous history. How long was it limited,limping,bending. Takes time to stretch and lengthen muscles and tendons all over again. And as long as there is swelling or scar tissue, that will limit bend too.
USA our program says you should be at 90 by max 6wks with minimum final goal of 120. Past that is awesome. Scar tissue and swelling are the 2 main reasons that pain and limited mobilty persists.
:D
And of course it will depend on what you had before . . so to actually achieve more than that, you are going to have to gently sgtretch muscles which have probably not been extended for quite some time. I think there is a limit on some prosthesis, and not on others. . I remember one man who achieved 150, which is more than I have ever had I think, even when I was in perfect condition! But I believe that some of the new joints actually do have a limit, and probably less than 150. . . . but your surgeon would know more about that.
Thanks Jeanie and AuntEg and Martinavelo! Yes, it went through my mind after I asked the question, that to some degree it would depend on what the other leg is now. I never thought of it as having a limited bend - it goes absolutely straight, which the operated one does now, but I reckon I'm pretty much up to about 120 with the operated one, maybe a tad more and the non operated one is about the same so I'll keep doing the stretching and watch it overtake the other one maybe! I know it's incredibly good for 5 weeks (and a day!) but I still feel a huge responsibility to get it as good as it can be!
I'm wondering now if I've seen someone mention 135 as a 'wished for' bend. I can't imagine getting that, but who knows!
That's an interesting question and I think individual depending on your individual condition pre op or any other joint problems. It probably depends on the prosthesis type too and not sure if patellar resurface might have a bearing. However I'm not an expert but it's a question for your surgeon.
My physio told me + 110 is OK after tkr but I've aimed for higher and am at + 120 to 125 depends if swollen. The exercuses soo important , scary tissue can restrict ROM. I do know that if you kneel you must not sit back on your heels with some implants.
I'm going to add that question to.my list for surgeon.
Happy exercising! Best wishes , Jan
Excuse typos you get my drift
Depends how bad the unoperated knee is. My knees would hardly bend at all, horrendous pain. Even at the early stages after tkr it was better than before, then operated knee got better than unoperated one, so had second one done. 18 months on, great bend, so glad I had them done, hope you soon feel the same way.
I'm in the UK and I was told by my consultant that he would like a ROM of 120 at the 7 week post op check. He told me that scar tissue is rare and he'd only had to do one manual manipulation in the last 12 months and that my knee is capable of a 135 ROM so I'm working on it as last week I was 125 ROM. (8 weeks post op)
Also my physiotherapist told me there's no such thing as a '3 month window' as things continue to improve way after that time.
Before tkr's,I regularly took knee bend back so far that I could touch the cheeks of my bum with my heel.
Not possible to get any more than this at any time.
best wishes
Mike
The goal is 0 degrees straight and 120 degrees bent. Anything more than that is a bonus. My PT told me that "athletes" are in the 140-degree range; if you can sit back with your heels touching your butt...that's 161 degrees.
Thanks Laura. Yes, I'm desperate for that second one to be done! I've got a fairly good bend on it - never gave the bend a thought until now LOL! But it's the pain from it and the weakness too. I'm over the moon with the first knee!
Yes:-))) The last time I knelt down was 2012 and have no intention of kneeling again - I want to look after my new knees as well as possible! I can manage without kneeling:-))))
This is wonderful to hear how many variations we are all getting told on what to expect and what to aim for and so on! My lot only said they expect us to be walking without a limp at the 6 week check. But then I guess since we don't see a physio for the post op period until then, they wouldn't expect people to be measuring their ROM. That sounds good for 8 weeks Ali. Yes, I've read in a lot of places now that there isn't a 'window' whether it's six weeks, or eight weeks or three months, as people are getting told. I think the thing is, that you want to get the best bend as soon as you can and improve on it as you can - this is the priority issue, and strength can be built up from there.
WOW - I used to be able to do that but not with bone on bone arthritis for many years:-)))) BUT, I can manage without it - it's not often I want to give myself a kick up the backside LOL! But good for you Mike:-)))))
Happy dance now, thank you Chico:-))))) I'm pretty much there now so will get further, no doubt:-)))) STILL get that cramping/pinching feeling at the back of the knee if I push the bend too much and it looks bruised at the back of the knee, but I'll ask the physio when I go and am hoping that as swelling goes down it will sort itself out. Very worst case would be that it is impingement and need surgery but hoping not.
I can get 135 pushing. . but under my own muscle strength it's probably more like 125 . . . . . .I saw a photo of the man who was at 150 . . his leg just didn't even look normal!!!