Exercises you perform prior to knee replacement surgery can strengthen your knee, improve flexibility, and help you recover faster. There are numerous exercises you can do at home. But it's important to speak to your surgeon and physical therapist before you start any new exercise regimen.
Jamie Nelson, PT, DPT, offers insights into how you can strengthen your muscles before surgery. Doing these exercises will allow rehab to go more quickly and effectively.
Begin with five to 10 repetitions of each exercise twice a day the first week, then increase to 10 to 15 repetitions by week two, and finally move up to 15 to 20 repetitions by week three.
This exercise helps build the quadriceps muscle that attaches to the knee.
This exercise is crucial in building your hip abductor muscles located in the buttocks. These muscles stabilize your pelvis while you are standing and walking.
These leg raises will help build your quadriceps and hip flexor muscles. This is especially important for regaining movement after surgery.
This works the external rotators and part of your abductors. Both are important for early ambulation and balance.
This helps maintain your range of motion prior to your surgery.
This helps strengthen the quadriceps muscle through its full range of motion.
This will help strengthen your triceps so they can hold you up when you don't have the use of both legs after surgery.
Lie on the floor or a bed and place a rolled blanket or large can under your problematic knee. Straighten your leg and the knee and hold the position for 5 seconds. Slowly lower your leg down and rest. Make sure the back of your knee stays in contact with the object the entire time and the small of your back remains on the floor. This exercise also helps strengthen the quadriceps muscle.
This helps strengthen your hamstrings and the gluteal muscles in your butt. These muscles are important for getting in and out of chairs and cars.
This exercise is crucial for maintaining balance and reducing the risk of falls. Perform this exercise as many times as you can per day.
Spend at least 15 minutes twice a day doing these exercises. Your ability to build up strength in the muscles around your knee prior to the surgery will greatly impact the speed and quality of your recovery.