Prehabilitation Advice for Knee Replacement Surgery
Your need for a total knee replacement means that you have probably been experiencing knee pain and instability for some time. You may also have been struggling to walk for any distance due to the pain and weakness in your leg.
Written by Chartered Physiotherapist, Liz Palmer
Medical Review by Medical Quality Officer, David Jones , MPharm
Published: Thursday 12 January 2023
Your need for a total knee replacement means that you have probably been experiencing knee pain and instability for some time. You may also have been struggling to walk for any distance due to the pain and weakness in your leg. This can lead to a fear of movement and exercise. The lack of mobility and subsequent reduction in activity may have caused your weight to increase also. To prepare well for your surgery, it is important to address these issues.
We know, from research done, that improving general fitness before any surgery reduces complications and the length of stay in the hospital. If your body is in good shape before the surgery, you will recover your muscle strength and activity levels more quickly in the post-operative stage.
For general advice, see this general prehabilitation advice for orthopaedic surgery.
Strength and general fitness can be improved by using an exercise cycle, either in your own home or at a gym. Using the exercise bike, either upright or recumbent, will improve your cardiovascular fitness and also the strength of your leg muscles without putting too much strain on your knee joint. It is important to strengthen your quadriceps and hamstring muscles around your knee before your surgery. Using the exercise cycle will also help to strengthen the muscles around your hip, which also contribute to your knee stability and strength. Make sure you fully straighten your knee with any exercises and really feel the muscles around your knee working hard.
