BOPDHB Patient Resources Hip and Knee joint replacement book - June 2016 | Page 68

Knee exercises

Days 3 - 4 after your operation
These exercises are designed to help you to strengthen and stretch
your knee.

Knee extension
Sit on a chair (if you like, you can
have a small 1-2kg weight around
your ankle).
Pull your toes up, tighten the front of
your thigh muscle and straighten your
knee slowly.
Hold for approximately five seconds,
lower slowly.

Sustained knee extension
Rest your foot on a foot stool, let your knee straighten.
Let gravity pull your knee down
straight.
Hold as long as you can tolerate
(eg - one minute to 10 minutes).
You need to continue these exercises
when you get home from hospital.
Your physiotherapist will give guidance
on when to extend your walking
distances and when you can move on
to the more challenging exercises.

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