I had a chat with my physiotherapist last week and asked her about knee bend (is how we tend to refer to it here in Oz).
I asked her if we all need a bigger number and she said "no".
She said that some people just aren't going to get bigger numbers simply because of the size of the leg. eg - how can you make a knee go totally flat if you have big legs.
It's more about what can you do and practice things like getting out of chair with no hands, deep bends like squatting and mini squats. Balancing on one foot and rising on the ball of your foot etc. So don't focus on the numbers just do the practise.
In a nutshell - do the work and you'll be able to do more!
Sorry - wish you could edit a previous comment - what I meant about making a knee go totally flat - I'm referring to when you're standing or sitting - not when you're lying flat.
Absolutely. It just discourages people when they start to focus on a few degrees this way or that. Large (fatter) legs don't bend as far either...the soft tissues limit bend. Once swelling dies down things improve a lot, as long as folk keep the leg moving and don't start inflicting agony on themselves, progress is made with time. On rare occasions certain people may have adhesions within the joint which cause a hard stop to their bend, but this is the exception, not the rule.
Did not realise you are from Oz! Interesting to get a world wide perspective! Well, we seem to have UK, USA, and Australia at least! Anyone from anywhere else?
I had my knee replaced in November last year. I did get quite worried at one point of the journey as my bend was slow to improved despite hydrotherapy and physio. Once I reached 90 bend and -8 straightening I finished physio and stopped worrying about the numbers. I feel great again. Still do my exercises, walk and swim. I don't think my bend will ever be 120/130 but does it matter - I can do what I need to with no pain just the occasional stiffness. As for straightening well, my other leg doesn't sit flat to the floor so I'm not really expecting the operated leg to either. Glad you are doing well - and it's a good tip for anyone - don't get too hung up on numbers, do your exercises and get well everyone. 😊
Yes, exactly! I have been feeling so bad for the people who have been pushed by their physiotherapists to get a better number and it makes me so sad to hear.
That is pretty much true, Cheryl. The numbers - the amount of degrees - tells us how much we need to be able to function. In other words, in order to best and most efficiently be able to get in and out of a chair you need at least 100, depending on how tall or how short you are and how tall or short the chair is.
So the numbers can't be dismissed because we know how much we need to get in order for those things to happen.
And if we are working with someone and we measure and only get 75, 80, 85 degrees, we know that getting in and out of a chair - or completing some other task - is going to be very difficult. So it gives us something to shoot for.
Really no different than knowing how much time it takes to get to the airport so you don't miss your flight.
Well done and well said. I have always wondered how I was going to manage to get a big bend on very large thighs, no matter what I do there is always a lot of tissue (read fat here😊 that gets in the way.
i do 30 minutes exercise three times a day so I am doing my very best and now
I am trying to focus not necessarily on the number but how it relates to my good knee and so far on the table there is just 5cm between them in four weeks. So I've decided to stop beating myself up and be happy with my progress.
YES!!!! There is no "should"...everyone is different.
The docs and PTs all want to shoot for 0 straight and 120 bent. Do we all get there? Well...no. Lots of factors: age, weight, leg size, the amount of scar tissue that your body creates, your willingness to endure a lot of pain to break down that tissue, your willingness to keep up an exercise program to stay strong. Some people don't even get close and require MUAs.
I asked my PT about what goals there were for an 85-year old with a new knee. He said: "Get out of bed, go to the bathroom, take a shower, get to the kitchen, make a sandwich, go to the living room, watch TV, go to bed." That's it...no 0 / +120 or anything else...just having a decent quality of life. In the end, it's more about that than a number.
I'm 69 and 16+months post- op with a ROM of 0 / +133 that I really worked to get. I'm happy with what I did and glad it gives me the quality of life I want...but it's different for everyone...
Hi Cheryl -- very interesting post. I have to admit that I am hung up on the number of 120 because that is what the number that the doctor is looking for on the bend. I do my exercise and I also use a DynaSplint brace to improve the bend. My knee really hurts in the back. I am 9 months post TKR and I still have pain plus what we call the rubber band stiffness. Do you know how can I tell if I have adhesions/scar tissue? That is my concern and at post 9 months there is not much that the surgeon can dounless he does and arthroscopic. Thanks a in advance. J-21370
Good on you Tricia. My legs are also big - just my genetics, nothing I can do. Generally the doctors here in Oz don't take much notice of all of this. We all just need to filter it out.
I'm sorry j21370, I don't know how you can tell if you have adhesions/scar tissue, so I don't want to venture an opinion, hopefully tsw678 will shed some light on this.
I can tell you that my surgeon takes no notice of numbers. I saw him and a PT last week, and it was never about numbers. It was more to do with 'am I happy with what I can do' and a good talk about why I arrested in theatre. Also my GP never asks for numbers either. All of them can see how well I'm walking and how well I'm doing - that's it.
Please note I am not a medical person at all, I'm passing on information that was given to me. I'm not encouraging / discouraging anything. I'm saying how it's been for me. I hope that's a given.