So, I am 12 weeks post op from a left TKR on Friday, and have been doing my exercises 3 times a day religiously. What I am wondering is at what point do you start decreasing it, I am going to the gym and am walking and going up and down stairs ok, bend is really good as well. Any body have any thoughts please.
Hi I went for my 6 weeks check up last week (uk). I have a good bend and am walking ok. My physio said I could stop doing exercises now and just concentrate on walking cycling and swimming
Having said this I still have a lot of stiffness after having my leg in a straight position for a while so I am still doing bending exercises.
I guess it depends how you feel. If your muscles are improving no need to do quad exercises. Also online there are some different exercises to do post 12 weeks
I think there are different opinions in uk to USA as to physio. I haven't had any personal Pt just given a book and told to follow the exercises in it !!
Hope this helps
If you have achieved full flexion (0 degrees straight and at least 120 degrees of bend), then you would be considered "done". However, you still need to rebuild the strength in your quad and other leg muscles to support the knee. That takes exercising for strength. You should be able to do leg presses, curls, etc. where both legs are indistinguishable from each other. If you can do x pounds with your good knee but less with the new one, then keep working on it. Could take some time.
If you have achieved full flexion (0 degrees straight and at least 120 degrees of bend), then you would be considered "done". However, you still need to rebuild the strength in your quad and other leg muscles to support the knee. That takes exercising for strength. You should be able to do leg presses, curls, etc. where both legs are indistinguishable from each other. If you can do x pounds with your good knee but less with the new one, then keep working on it. Could take some time.
I've never done physio or any exhaustive exercise anyway but I have always carried on as if nothing happened from the day I came home from Hospital! However an uncle of mine had both knees done and he said to always do some gentle knee exercises everyday so When I wake in the morning before I get out of bed I do some leg raises and foot slide bends and same again when I go to bed hopefully keeping everything functioning smoothly.
Hi there it sounds as though you should just focus on walking & swimming and cycling. Well done regards Amandah
For me, once I got the desired bend achieved, things were able to change. I still worked on it so that it didn't regress, but I didn't need to do it as rigurously. I did start walking greater distances, so it was replaced with another.
Hi Diane! I'm also 12 weeks and I believe what Chico said. Keep your quad strength up. I laxed on my quad exercises and I'm paying the price with my knee buckling sometimes when I walk... The only reason for this is my tkr quad is not as strong as it should be. I walk a lot and thought I could get by with just that and a little biking.... Nope... I'm now back to doing leg extentions, squats and biking with resistance. So, lesson learned... Your quads need to be strong and musicals flexible to support that new knee. Good luck Diane and everyone that is going through this process and I'll chime in at 4 months with an update.
Totally agree with Chico .. building your quads and muscles can be a slow progress however you seem to be one of the very lucky ones able to do what you can at 6wks. I would persue with strengthening exercises to be on the safe side. They do say it can take up to a full 12-18mths depending on the knee for recovery.