Physical Therapy Exercises To Do After Total Knee Replacement

You need knee physical therapy near you in Philadelphia after a knee replacement. After surgery, your leg muscles may feel weak because you didn’t use them much when you had knee problems. Knee surgery corrected the problem you had and now you have to work on restoring the strength and functionality of your knee.

 

Swelling

It is very important to keep your swelling down after knee surgery. You can do this by lying with your leg at the heart level, put a cold pack on the knee, pump your muscles through the ankle pumps and then do balancing activity with enough rest.

Range of motion

It is crucial to work on your knee motion after knee replacement surgery. Doing this will help you walk without limping and get up and down easier from a toilet, bed or chair. You can do this by doing knee bending stretches and straightening stretches. You should be directed in your physical therapy clinic in Philadelphia how to do this. You can also sit with your knees bent at mealtimes and avoid resting with your knee bent.

Strengthening activities

You should work on regaining strength after surgery. The following exercises will help you regain the strength of your knees.

Walking

It is crucial to walk often throughout the day. Walking will help you get back to walking outside. You can walk around your home by the aid of a front-wheel walker, a cane, or crutches as instructed by your therapist. Walking with the heel-toe pattern that your physiotherapist taught you is highly encouraged. You can gradually increase the distance you walk as your muscles get stronger.

Ankle pumps and circles

To do ankle pumps and circles, pump your feet up and down. Do this by pulling your feet up towards you and push your feet down away from you. Rotate your feet counterclockwise and clockwise. Make sure you get knee physical therapy near you in Philadelphia that will suit your needs.