Following a total knee replacement the first 6-8 weeks are key in helping your body to heal and get back to function. It can be a daunting experience being discharged from hospital with a booklet full of information and exercises as well as a new knee to get used to. Some of the exercises may seem small and simple but are often fundamental for laying the foundations to a happy and healthy knee. Within this blog I will outline the first 6 weeks following your surgery and cover what the goals are for each week.
Week 1 – Acute management
This first week will often feel the worst due to the high levels of inflammation, causing a loss of movement and function. Therefore it is important we follow a structured plan that will be most beneficial to the healing process. This structure will vary depending on your individual needs and one that will fit in with your daily routine – there is no good in following a plan if it doesn’t work for you. The goals will stay the same; to manage pain, and decrease swelling and bruising.
Week 2 – Improving Function
Around this time you may feel like there has been little improvement day to day. Due to the persistence of swelling and inflammation this is normal, you are in the subacute phase of tissue healing. This is when you will start to grow new tissues and repair the damaged ones. It is at this time we can start to increase your range of motion and really focus on the Knee’s function.
Week 3 – Maintaining Muscle Mass
As the swelling starts to go, you may notice there has been a decrease in your muscle size around the knee. Due to a lack of use of the muscles they start to atrophy which then leads to a weakness of the injured area impairing the function and ability to move well and can lead to further problems in the future. Therefore it’s important we start to load the muscles and create tension in a way that is safe and practical for you. While we keep working on improving your range of movement and knee stability
Week 4 – Functional
It is normal for you to start to be a little frustrated that you’re not back to your previous activity level. It takes time to get there. We have to respect healing times for the damaged tissues. It’s at this point we can start to increase your rehab and start to implement more exciting exercises that are more tailored to functional movement that you do every day. We will focus on bending, lifting, walking, getting up and down stairs – things we all do frequently.
Week 5 – Functional Strength
There is light at the end of the tunnel. You are through the worst of it. You may find walking and general movement has improved and you’re starting to build more confidence within your knee. It is now just about being consistent with the exercises and not to rush back into things. You don’t want to overdo it. You might just focus on the previous week’s exercises with slight progressions. Or we may be able to add a few new ones to help improve some areas we feel would benefit from a bit more focus.
Week 6 – Return To Normality
The 6 week mark can be a positive week. You have stuck with your exercises enough to see a positive change in your body’s function. You’ll feel a lot stronger, you’ll have improved function and should find daily living a lot easier with a lot less struggles. Pain should be a lot less and a lot more manageable. It is around this time some normality to your life may resume. For example you may be able to go for walks, light cycling or even start to return to your pre-op physical activity levels. It’s important for you to continue the hard work that got you to this stage by sticking with the exercises for just a bit longer.
It’s also a good time to reflect on how far you have come now that you can start to enjoy the freedom of having a better functioning knee.
If you have any questions or would like personalised advice on your knee recovery, why not book a free 15-minute telephone consultation with Chris Dumbrell? You can easily schedule a call using the link below:
Book your free 15-minute consultation with Chris here
Chris is happy to guide you through the next steps of your rehabilitation and ensure you’re on track for a successful recovery!
