| Knee replacement surgery is very common and | | | | mean that you knee will bend as much as it did when |
| usually done to reduce pain. Many people, particularly | | | | you were 10 years old. |
| the more active arthritis sufferers, are also | | | | The biggest predictor of post surgery range of |
| concerned about their level of function and how it will | | | | motion is pre surgery range of motion. That is, those |
| impact on their quality of life. For this reason it is | | | | whose knee was very restricted before the |
| good to have an understanding on the effect of | | | | operation should expect to struggle more than |
| surgery on knee range of motion and what you can | | | | someone who had good range pre-operatively. This |
| do to maximize your outcome. | | | | does not mean that the range will not increase with |
| Knee replacement surgery is a significant operation | | | | surgery, just that on average, expectations will be |
| and is only recommended when pain and loss of | | | | lower. |
| function are having a noted negative impact on | | | | What can you do about maximizing your result? |
| lifestyle. This ensures that the benefits will outweigh | | | | Work hard and follow the advice of your physical |
| the risks of surgery. Modern prostheses are very | | | | therapist. Increases in range of motion are easiest to |
| durable and both surgery times and admission lengths | | | | achieve in the immediate post-operative period. |
| are much lower than previously. Despite this, a | | | | Unfortunately, this is also the most painful period. |
| replaced knee is not the same as a pristine natural | | | | From my experience, those that are tough on |
| knee, and there are some limitations. | | | | themselves in the early stages do much better than |
| The goal of knee replacement surgery is to provide | | | | those who say "it hurts too much now, I'll do the |
| pain-free, functional movement. Functional in this | | | | exercises when it stops hurting". This wait and see |
| setting means allowing your knee to do most of | | | | approach misses the window of opportunity. |
| what you require in everyday activities. This does not | | | | |