After knee replacement surgery, finishing strengthening exercises is a key component of the recovery program. Following a knee replacement, doing the appropriate exercises can help you gain muscular strength, enhance mobility, reduce swelling, and quickly resume regular activities.
Following a knee replacement, your best surgeon for knee replacement in Delhi will advise you on the best exercises to undertake, how frequently to do them, and how long you should do them.
Following knee surgery, you should perform these exercises more intensely as you are able to exert greater force on your muscles and move your joints over a wider range of motion. You should do these exercises as guided by your knee replacement doctor.
Walking after knee surgery is strongly advised in addition to strengthening routines as it will help prevent issues brought on by immobility and enhance healing. Here in this blog, we will guide you to 10 exercises you must perform after knee replacement surgery.
Why Exercising is Important?
Exercises following total knee replacement surgery (and general rehabilitation) will hasten your recovery and help you get back to your normal activities more quickly. The following are some additional advantages of post-operative knee exercises:
- They promote blood flow, which inhibits the development of clots.
- Lower limb pain is reduced.
- Restores the limb muscles’ strength.
- You will become self-independent.
- It will help you recover faster.
Top 10 Exercises You Must Do After Knee Replacement Surgery
Knee replacement surgery is important to undergo if the person has been experiencing persistent knee pain for months that is not going away with medications. Once you have undergone the surgery, you must practice certain exercises to regain your mobility. Here are some of the best exercises mentioned:
Sit to Stand
Sit down on a sturdy chair and place your feet firmly on the ground. Use a chair with armrests to make this exercise simpler. As you gain strength, lift your arms in front of you until they are parallel to the floor to make this exercise more difficult.
Lean forward while hunching at the hips, then stand up. While standing, watch out for locking your knees or allowing them to cave inward towards one another. Reset the chair by lowering yourself back down gradually.
Quad Sets
Lay on your back with your legs extended and your toes pointed upward. Place a pillow under the knee that has undergone replacement. To straighten your knee, gradually squeeze the quadriceps muscles that surround it.
Another cue that frequently works is to visualize squeezing the back of your leg down against the table to squash the pillow down. Repeat after holding the contraction for 10 to 30 seconds.
Heel Slide
Lay on your back with your legs extended heels on the ground and toes pointing up. Slowly move one heel towards your buttocks while contracting your buttocks. Bow at the replaced knee. Continue while bringing your leg back to the initial position by sliding your heel in front once more and straightening your knee.
Straight Leg Raise
In this exercise, you will actively elevate your entire limb from the hip. This exercise will assist in strengthening the quadriceps muscles as well as the muscles that flex your hip (bring the hip up or in front depending on your position).
Walking will help you heal more quickly and become more independent. Strong hip muscles will also aid in maintaining a good stride, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders brought on by an unnatural gait and walking style.
Slow Walking
It is as easy as it sounds. Start out with short distances to avoid wearing out your new knee too quickly. Though it may be paining a little bit, you must take things slowly when you return to normal life. Slow walking will strengthen the muscles as well as a new knee joint.
Knee Bend Strech
Knee bends are essential for regaining the range of motion in your knees. You can walk properly and easily bend your knee without experiencing any pain if your knee has a normal range of motion (ROM).
But if you can’t take it, you shouldn’t rush to bend your knee past 90 degrees in the first two weeks. You can bend your knees while sitting or resting on the bed.
Knee Stretching
The goal of this exercise is to fully extend the knee while maintaining the knee’s range of movement. You should attempt to fully extend or straighten your knee within the second week following surgery. Although this knee replacement workout can be done in a variety of postures, reclining on the bed is the most secure choice.
Short Arc Squad
After knee replacement surgery, practicing short arc quads can help activate your quadriceps strength and enhance your capacity for straightening your knee. Additionally, it can assist in restoring the knee joint to its full range of motion and avoid abnormalities of the knee following healing. The short arc quad workout can be done at home with a roller of foam or a sizable cloth.
Hydrotherapy
A great method of retraining your muscles is hydrotherapy. Your knee is relieved of pressure and weight while you are buoyant in the water, which frees you up to concentrate on restoring vital flexibility abilities like lunging and squatting. Additionally, the lack of weight can lessen any discomfort brought on by early workout regimens.
Seated Knee Extension
Sit on a chair and place the foot of your replaced knee on another chair. Make sure that the knee is straight and parallel to the floor. Stay in this position for 5 minutes to help you extend your knees for a longer time such that your legs become flexible.
Conclusion
In conclusion, performing exercises after knee surgery can help with rehabilitation, independence, conquering restrictions in everyday activities, building up muscles, preventing blood clots and swelling reduction. In order to reap the greatest benefits from these exercises, they should be performed as soon as possible after surgery.
Consult with a good orthopedic surgeon before performing any of these activities. Also, before undergoing the surgery always ensure that the doctor you are connecting with is highly experienced, has good reviews, has an area of expertise in treating knees and charges less.
For a good doctor, you can connect with one in Delhi. They have minimal knee replacement surgery costs in Delhi and provide good solutions for any orthopedic problem.