Exercises For Knee Replacement Surgery

Help Prepare For Knee Replacement Surgery

To help you to prepare for your knee replacement surgery you may practise the following exercises at home. The purpose of these exercises is to strengthen muscles, which will be useful in your rehabilitation. These exercises should be performed at least twice a day in repetitions of 10 for one month before surgery.

1. Heel Slide

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Done lying on your back.

Slide your heel along the surface, bending the knee towards your chest.

Hold for 3 seconds.

Then slide the heel downward, straightening the knee.

2. Quad Sets

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With a rolled towel under your knee, press downwards, tightening the knee and raising the heel approximately 1 inch off the surface.

3. Short Arc Quad Sets

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With a pillow under your knee, raise the foot and straighten your knee.

Hold for 3 seconds. Lower your foot slowly.

4. Straight Leg Raise

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Raise your leg toward the ceiling, keeping the knee straight.

Your opposite knee should be bent, with your foot flat on the surface to protect your back from straining.

5. Posterior Knee Stretch

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With a rolled up towel under your heel, press the back of the knee downwards towards the surface.

Hold this position for 3 seconds. Then release.

6. Knee Flexion Prone

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Lying on Stomach.

Raise the foot, bending the knee towards the buttocks.

Hold this stretch position for 3 seconds, then lower slowly to the surface.

7. Knee Extension

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Begin with your feet flat on the floor. Slowly raise your foot straightening the knee. Hold this position for 3 seconds keeping the back of your thigh on the chair. Lower your foot to floor.
This exercise can be done with a small rolled towel under your thigh.

8. Dorsi/ Plantar Flexion

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Begin with both feet flat on floor. Raise your toes up keeping your heels on the floor.

Reverse, raising both heels with your toes on the floor.

Continue alternating, raising first the toes and then the heels.

9. Glutial Sets

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Recline on your back, supported by your elbows. Keep both legs straight.

Squeeze your buttocks together as tightly as possible. Hold for five seconds and relax.