A knee replacement can relieve years of pain, but the new joint only works as well as the muscles around it. The exercises you do in the weeks after surgery make a big difference in how well you bend, straighten and walk. Here's what recovery usually looks like, and how in-home physical therapy helps.
Always follow your surgeon's specific instructions. This article is general information, not a personal exercise plan.
Weeks 1 to 2: Gentle motion and walking
The first goal is getting the knee moving and keeping swelling down. Early exercises often include:
- Ankle pumps to help circulation
- Quad sets: tightening the thigh muscle while the leg is straight
- Heel slides to gently bend the knee
- Short, frequent walks with your walker or cane
Weeks 3 to 6: Bending further and building strength
As healing progresses, your therapist adds exercises to improve bending (flexion) and straightening (extension) and to strengthen your thigh and hip muscles. Walking time grows gradually, and many people move from a walker to a cane.
Weeks 6 and beyond: Back to everyday life
The focus shifts to balance, stairs, getting in and out of the car, and returning to the activities you enjoy. Staying consistent with your home exercises helps your new knee last.
Why therapy at home helps
The first weeks after surgery are when getting to a clinic is hardest. With in-home therapy, we practice on your own stairs, your own bed and your own bathroom, so the skills carry straight into daily life. One of our patients put it this way: each week she gained flexion she didn't have before.
Signs to call your doctor
Contact your surgeon right away if you notice increasing redness, warmth or drainage at the incision, fever, calf pain or swelling, or sudden shortness of breath.
Get help with your recovery
UPT Services provides in-home knee and hip replacement rehab across Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County and Montgomery County. We accept Medicare Part B. Call (215) 760-8229 to get started.