Physical Therapy and Leg Exercises after Knee Surgery

Physical Therapy – Excellent way to recover after knee surgery

Knee pain can be caused by several factors - sport injuries, accidents, arthritis, knee joint diseases, slips and falls. Prolonged stress on the knees and joints can lead to chronic pain which often ends in knee surgery. Based on the type of surgery you undergo, the recovery period and the rehabilitation procedure may vary. This article discusses how physical therapy can help patients recover after knee surgery.

Knee pain, if unattended, can lead to serious problems like knee ligament damage, bone bruises, tendinitis, edema, meniscal tears, and much more. Sometimes, these situations may lead to surgery. Physical therapy is considered an active rehabilitation program that can help to manage the pain and reduce the functional disability associated with it

What you can expect from a physical therapy rehab program

No matter what type of knee surgery you undergo, physical therapy rehabilitation offers the right combination of therapies and exercises to help you to return to your normal life. A supervised treatment plan helps you attain the following objectives:

• Alleviate the pain in the knee
• Improve knee function and achieve improved range of motion
• Gain independence
• Restore strength and flexibility of knee
• Protect against future injuries

Get physical therapy treatment from an expert

Seek physical therapy services from a specialist in the field. An experienced physical therapist can recommend the right exercises to ease your condition.

To speed up the recovery process, it is important to perform physical therapy exercises on a regular basis. They are broadly classified into

• Stretching exercises – Simple non-weight bearing exercises are recommended to relax the anterior portion of the leg.

• Isometric strengthening exercise –Another important step after knee surgery is to build strength through muscle contraction. This can be achieved with the help of strengthening exercises.

• Hip extension exercises to strengthen the gluteal muscles.

• Quadricep strengthening exercise – The quadricep is the most important knee muscle that helps the correct positioning of the knee cap. To strengthen it, quad sets are performed.

Among the various passive therapies, ice and heat application is considered as the most effective. Prior to the exercise regime, heat and cold packs are used alternatively to relieve pain. Cold packs are not directly applied as this may harm the skin tissue. Instead, a soft towel is kept between the pack and the skin. This reduces inflammation. Heat packs are found highly beneficial to induce vasodilation and it reduces muscle spasm. Moreover, it increases the blood circulation and relaxes the tensed muscles. Maintaining a healthy weight is also crucial to maintaining knee function.

So if you expect to truly gain full movement potential and lead an active life after a knee surgery, then talk to an expert therapist to benefit from these physical therapy and lower extremity exercises.