Generally, you will begin doing phase 2 exercises 6 weeks after surgery, after you have seen your surgeon or physiotherapist. This allows for normal healing after surgery.
Exercise is important after surgery to make your new knee stronger and more flexible and to help prevent blood clots. The exercises may feel uncomfortable at first, but exercising will help you to get back to your everyday activities sooner.
Your healthcare team may suggest you add some or all of these exercises to the ones you were doing before surgery. Your healthcare team will tell you how often to do the exercises, how many times to repeat each exercise, and how much force or pressure you can put on your new knee.
It is important to do these exercises on your surgical leg. If you are able, you can do the exercises on both legs. Do them slowly and with control. Make sure
not to force your new knee into a position that causes you pain or discomfort.
- Lie on your stomach, with your legs straight.
- Bend 1 leg, lifting the heel toward your buttocks (bum).
- Slowly lower your leg to the starting position.
- Repeat at least 5 times.
- Lie on your stomach and bend both legs up toward your buttocks.
- Cross 1 leg behind the other at the ankle.
- Use the heel on the outside leg to
gently push the inside leg toward your buttocks.
- Hold for a count of 15.
- Release and repeat at least 5 times.
- Sit with 1 leg bent and loop a towel around the ankle.
- Using the towel, gently pull the heel toward your buttocks.
- Hold for a count of 15.
- Release and repeat at least 5 times.
- Sitting in a steady chair and put an elastic band around both ankles.
- Lifting 1 foot, straighten your leg while keeping the other foot on the floor as you stretch the elastic.
- Slowly lower your foot to the starting position.
- Repeat at least 5 times.
- Sitting in a steady chair, put an elastic band around both ankles.
- Put 1 foot on a stool and pull the opposite foot back under the chair, stretching the elastic. Keep the other foot steady as you stretch the elastic.
- Slowly return to the starting position.
- Repeat at least 5 times.
Use a chair with armrests if you need to use your arms while you build up strength in your legs. Use a pillow to raise the seat level if it is too low.
- Sit on the front edge of a steady chair with your knees shoulder-width apart.
- Make sure your knees are lined up with your feet.
- Slowly raise and lower yourself from the chair without using your arms.
- Put equal pressure on your legs. Don't lean forward at the waist.
- Repeat at least 5 times.
- Place 1 end of an elastic band around a secure object and the other end around 1 thigh, keeping the knee bent slightly.
- Hold onto a table or other steady object.
- Slowly straighten the leg to stretch the elastic, keeping your heel on the floor.
- Return slowly to the starting position.
- Repeat at least 5 times.
- Place a solid object 5 to 10cm (2 to 4 inches) thick on the floor to use as a step.
- Hold on to a table or counter for balance, and step forward and up onto the object.
- Slowly step back down.
- Repeat at least 5 times.
- Hold on to a table or counter for balance and move 1 leg forward.
- Put your weight evenly on both legs and bend your knees towards the ground. Bend the forward leg and lean your upper body over the bent knee.
- Hold for a count of 3 to 5.
- Slowly relax and return to a standing position.
- Repeat at least 5 times.
- Stand facing a wall and place your hands on the wall.
- Move 1 leg forward and bend it while keeping your other leg straight.
- Slowly lean your hips toward the wall, until you feel a stretch in the back of the straight leg.
- Hold for a count of 3 to 5.
- Slowly relax the stretch.
- Repeat at least 5 times.
Credit: All images on this page belong to the Bone and Joint Health Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services.
For more information on physiotherapy services in Alberta go to
Physiotherapy Services.
