Can I squat or kneel? Half squats for exercise are acceptable. Deep squatting is neither usually possible nor desirable after a knee replacement. Kneeling is not harmful but may not be comfortable.
Wall squats (6 weeks or more after knee replacement surgery) These squats are a great way to maintain strength in your quad muscles as well as your glute and calf muscles.
Kneeling. About 60 to 80 percent of people report difficulty kneeling or an inability to kneel after a total knee replacement. There is currently no clinical evidence to suggest kneeling shortens the life of the prosthesis, but if you're uncomfortable, you should avoid kneeling.
Baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, gymnastics, jogging, rock climbing, hang gliding, parachuting and high-impact aerobics are activities that should be avoided.
Patients are often most surprised to learn that they are not only permitted to lift weights but are encouraged to lift weights after receiving a joint replacement. In fact, lifting weights is the best thing a patient can do for the prolonged life of their artificial joint.
There are very few long-term limitations after knee replacement surgery. The main thing I tell my patients to avoid is long-distance running. It's high impact and repetitive, and it puts a lot of force on your knee. Most other physical activities and sports are fine.
Another move you normally wouldn't do soon after a knee replacement are lunges. But with the TRX straps, it's possible to do reverse lunges to strengthen the quads. The beauty of TRX straps is that there's so much variation in the exercises you can do to safely build muscle in the lower body.
Walking. Proper walking is the best way to help your knee recover. At first, you will walk with a walker or crutches. Your surgeon or therapist will tell you how much weight to put on your leg.
Don't Overdo It
Although exercise is the key to healing, you could be backpedaling progress by overworking your knee. Signs of over-exercising include swelling of the entire leg and lingering pain that stretches into the evening or into the next day.
After total knee replacement surgery you will be able to get out of bed and fully weight bear on your new knee within 24 hours.
There is no evidence that kneeling is harmful to your knee replacement. Some people are afraid of damaging the implant, but kneeling actually puts no more stress on your implants than the activities listed above.
Crossing your legs
Shortly after your total knee replacement, it is not recommended that you cross your legs. This is most likely due to the lack of range in your knee to be able to cross your legs. If you have ever seen someone sitting cross legged, you know how much their knee needs to bend.
This position is very important for Indian patients for praying in the temple or other religious places and many other daily activities. With our advanced surgical technique and high flexion implants, the majority of our patients can sit cross-legged on the floor within 3-6 months of knee replacement surgery.
The most important exercise or stretch after surgery is to work on your extension (getting the knee flat or straight). This should be done by placing your heel on an ottoman, chair, or on a rolled up pillow so air is under the knee, then push the knee down in extension. You should also work on flexion (the bend).
Barring any complications, most patients are able to return to most normal activities and walk without the need of assistive devices between three to six weeks after surgery. Overall, it usually takes two to three months to make a complete recovery from a minimally invasive knee replacement.
How long will it be before I feel normal? You should be able to stop using your crutches or walking frame and resume normal leisure activities 6 weeks after surgery. However, it may take up to 3 months for pain and swelling to settle down. It can take up to a year for any leg swelling to disappear.
How Long Does It Take to Walk After a Full Knee Replacement? In most cases, patients can walk without help from assistive devices like crutches or a walker within six weeks after knee replacement surgery.
Riding a bike after knee replacement surgery is often recommended as a part of rehabilitation treatment. In fact, most people can start riding a stationary bike in as little as two weeks after surgery. Even if you were an avid cycler before, riding a bike after knee replacement may be awkward at first.
If you fall on your knee soon after surgery when your joint replacement is still healing, you may damage the prosthetic implant. In that case, you might end up needing revision surgery. Until your balance, flexibility and strength are improved, use your cane, crutches or walker and be extra careful when walking.
There is a range of accepted weight ranges, but the current standard is that anyone obese (greater than 100 pounds over ideal weight or a BMI of roughly 40-45) should not consider joint replacement.
You may experience continued pain or discomfort and want to avoid kneeling. You also may be afraid of damaging the knee and its artificial components. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) advises that kneeling is safe and won't harm the knee. It may, however, still feel painful or uncomfortable to kneel.
Around the 6 week mark, once your physician gives you the greenlight, you may be able to return to sleeping in your preferred position (such as on your stomach or surgical side).
Knee Stiffness
One of the most common problems people experience after knee replacement is a stiff knee joint. 1 This can cause difficulty with activities that require a lot of bending, including going down stairs, sitting in a chair, or getting out of a car.