Total knee replacement (TKR) surgery can improve your quality of life and prevent you from unbearable pain that you have been suffering for many years. This medical procedure will increase your joints mobility and help you to return to normal activities.
Due to its plethora of benefits, TKR surgery’s popularity has been increasing day by day around the globe. Around 120,000 people undergo total knee replacement surgery every year in India, says Times of India. Having this incision is a great decision, but you need to take extra precautions when managing muscle activity after knee replacement.
Exercise, physiotherapy, and some precautions can help you to restore knee strength after a surgical procedure. This article is all about post-operative precautions and tips that will help you to recover in a short period.
As per the guidelines of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the patient of knee surgery must do exercise for 20 minutes 2 to 3 times a day. Besides this, they should walk for 30 minutes in the gaps of 4 to 5 hours. We will throw light on key activities to restore the strength and mobility of knee muscles.
5 Activities To Manage Knee Flexibility After Surgery
- Walk
Walking is essential for the patient who has had a knee replacement. Regular walk is one of the easiest and best ways to build muscle strength. Most of the surgeons advise patients to walk according to their comfort. However, it would be best for you to stroll as per the recommendation of AAOS. Remember to start with tiny steps and short walks. Besides bolstering muscle tissues, walking is also good for heart health and burns excessive calories. You can use a smart band or pedometer to track or count your steps.
- Swim
Another way to keep the knee healthy after surgery is swimming. You can practice swimming after 3 weeks of operation. The water exerts hydrostatic pressure on your body, which is good for alleviating knee pain and swelling. It will surely help your knee to regain motion. Many people have a misconception that swimming can obstruct the recovery from knee replacement. Let me clear; it is a non-weight bearing activity during which your body does not need to support its own weight. Simply put, swimming practices will not exert pressure on your knee.
- Dance
The long bed rest after surgery will probably be quite boring. There are many ways to beat boredom after the knee replacement, and one of them is dancing. Yes, gentle dancing can help to refresh the mind and recover at a faster rate. You perform light aerobics or ballroom dance during post-surgery periods. According to the great orthopaedics, dancing is the best way to boost leg muscles’ movement and best to heal the after-effects of joint surgery. However, it is important to avoid twisting movement as they can misalign the knee bones.
- Cycling
Riding a bicycle can also help you to get back on track after knee replacement. If you feel it difficult to move the cycle in the forward direction, you can peddle it backwards. Generally, physicians recommend bicycling after six weeks of total knee replacement surgery in Chandigarh. It reduces edema, manages muscle flexibility and boosts mobility.
- Yoga
Yoga is the oldest and most efficacious method of strengthening and relaxing muscles. It will relieve you from tremendous pain and hence your digesting. In addition to this, incorporating various yoga postures in your daily routine will help to keep the knee aligned with the hip bone. To get better results from yoga after joint surgery; it would be better to seek the advice of a yoga instructor
Apart from all the above, the Quadriceps Sets, straight leg raises, ankle pumps, knee straightening exercises, etc., can also aid your recovery. It is important to note that it is quite difficult to manage total knee replacement post-operative pain; physical therapy is a vital part of recovery. Yes, it may be quite surprising but absolutely true. You should follow the instruction of a physiotherapist from the 1 day of your operation.
You need to avoid the following things after surgery
- Do not sit crossed legs for a few weeks.
- Do not twist your knees.
- Do not place a pillow under the knees while sleeping.
- Do not play tough sports.
- Do not ignore swelling and inflammation.
- Avoid walking without support for a few days.
The Bottom Line -:
The above tips can increase your comfort and decrease the chances of getting injured after a total knee replacement procedure.
To follow the guidelines for health write for us a niche you can read on our website.
