What is a knee replacement? A knee replacement is when one of the two joint surfaces, or both, is replaced with hardware due to joint surfaces being damaged.
What are the precautions after my knee replacement? Some precautions you may have after a total knee replacement are squatting, quick pivoting, no pillows up the knee while in bed, and avoid low sitting.
How do I know if I’m a good candidate for a knee replacement? Some indications for knee replacements are severe joint pain which causes functional limitations to their activities of daily living, destruction of articular cartilage, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis. instability or limited motion, severe deformity (such as excessive knee varus or valgus), or potentially due to failure of previous surgery. Always consult with your physician first to see if you are a good candidate for a knee replacement.
What would my rehabilitation process look like? The main, number one goal, after receiving a knee replacement is re-gaining range of motion at the knee joint. Initially, exercises would consist of increasing circulation around the knee joint to prevent blood clots. Other interventions would consist of gait training, use of assistive device, if applicable, strengthening and patellar mobilizations to decrease scar tissue build up.