- Physical therapy involves more than exercise. It is also a system of taking care of your legs after surgery. Ice is an important part of therapy. Your doctor may recommend icing your legs as frequently as once an hour for 10 minutes at a time to decrease pain and swelling. Ice packs can be made by filling a gallon-sized zip lock bag with a mix of water and rubbing alcohol. Double bag the mix and freeze overnight. The alcohol keeps the water-mix from freezing too hard.
In addition to using ice to help with swelling, your doctor will have you wear TED hose which also prevent blood clots. They improve circulation, working by applying pressure. The hose will fit and feel tight, but they are supposed to. Your doctor will tell you to wear the hose for at least six weeks. Be sure to put them on according to directions. The hose must fit smoothly, without folds and wrinkles. - Even though the knees were replaced, many physical exercises will seem to focus on your feet or other parts of your leg. Remember that all the muscles are connected and that while it may not seem like an exercise geared toward strengthening your knees, it is still important. You should repeat each individual exercise about 15 times and repeat the entire physical therapy routine three times a day.
Your physical therapist may come out to your house, especially in the early part of recovery. As well, you will likely go to a therapy center. The exercises you learn at the center, as well as those you learn from your therapist and doctor can be done at home. You should continue your exercise regime even after you have completed your required therapy sessions. Rebuilding your knee and leg strength will take some time, so be patient.
Most exercises will be performed in one of three positions: lying on your back, sitting in a chair, or standing. The exercises will focus on building leg strength as well as increasing the mobility of your new joints. The condition of your knees and the mobility you had before surgery will be a factor in how long it'll take for full recovery. With work, you should be able to move about better than you did before the surgery.
Exercises done while lying on your back will exercise and stretch your calf muscles and work the hamstring. As well, they'll focus on bending and straightening your knees. Sitting exercises will develop some upper thigh strength as you lift your legs. And in straightening them at the knee, you'll pull against gravity for some resistance. Standing exercises will be more advanced. In the beginning you may wish to support yourself on the back of a chair or the edge of a table or counter. Standing exercises will focus on leg range and will strengthen many of the interior muscle groups, such as the abductors.
Many of your exercises will be performed simply by moving your legs, bending knees and stretching at the toes. As you advance and become stronger, you will also do many of the same exercises with additional resistance by using Thera bands or loop bands. These rubber bands will add a stretch and pull factor to your physical therapy.
If you have a swimming pool, consider adding in aquatic exercises into your routine. Simply wading through waist-deep water will add more resistance to your workout. And since the water provides you with natural buoyancy, it puts less strain on the joints.
For the knee to function well, the whole leg must be operational. So keep all the leg muscles strong and stretched. After physical therapy, remember to ice your knees.
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