| Knee replacement surgery is performed on individuals | | | | responsible for straightening the knee. It is also |
| who experience severe pain and disability due to | | | | important to work at strengthening the hamstrings |
| arthritis in their knee. Often the individual has suffered | | | | which is the muscle group at the back of the thigh |
| for many years in pain and as a result their quality of | | | | which is responsible for helping the knee to bend. |
| life has been significantly affected. | | | | Other muscle groups in the lower leg of hip may be |
| Time for surgery varies depending upon the individual | | | | weak because the individual has not walked properly |
| but key things that are taken into consideration | | | | for many years due to the pain of knee arthritis. A |
| include: Limited walking distance - the individual not | | | | physical therapist will be able to assess and prescribe |
| able to walk more than 3 blocks Significant Pain - the | | | | what is best for the situation. Gait or walking |
| pain is not relieved by arthritis medication | | | | re-education may also be required. As the individual |
| A good outcome for knee replacement surgery | | | | typically has experienced pain of knee arthritis for |
| occurs around 95% of the time. Rehabilitation | | | | many years, the individual may still walk with a limp |
| following a knee replacement is very important to | | | | due to this old program. A good physical therapist will |
| help achieve this good outcome rate. Physical therapy | | | | be able to provide with some walking tips and |
| (or physiotherapy) provides the individual with specific | | | | strategies to ensure quality of walking improves after |
| exercises to both increase strength and ensure the | | | | knee replacement surgery. |
| knee replacement has both a good bending range | | | | A good way to think of a physical therapist is that of |
| and as well as being able to straighten it fully. | | | | a coach. They can show you what to do, but it is |
| Exercises can be divided into 2 groups: Range The | | | | the individual who must get on with it and practise |
| individual is prescribed exercise to bend the knee and | | | | their exercises at twice a day to ensure a good |
| exercises to ensure the knee can be fully straighten. | | | | recovery. By making your knee exercises part of |
| The position the individual performs these exercises | | | | your normal routine, a bit like cleaning your teeth or |
| in varies depending on a number of different factors. | | | | combing your hair, your quality of life will improve |
| Strengthening The individual is prescribed exercises to | | | | dramatically following knee replacement surgery and |
| build up the strength of the quadriceps muscles | | | | you will be very glad of the decision to have it done. |
| (quads) located on the front of the thigh that is | | | | |