How to Recover from Knee Surgery With Exercise?

Answer 1

Recovering from bad knee pain or knee surgery? Then your physical therapist may recommend rehabilitation exercises to improve recovery time (hint hint: it's also good at preventing future injuries). While it may seem counterproductive to you, evidence shows us that people with stronger leg muscles generally recover faster post-surgery, as well as have as less incidences of knee problems in the future. Rehabilitation is definitely not something you want to miss out on.

How to Recover From Knee Surgery: Exercises

During rehabilitation, your physical therapist may recommend a range of exercises designed to increase the strength of the muscles surrounding your knee joint. He or she may also recommend other exercises that will prevent further injury, though what he or she might include depends on your personal physical profile.

Here is what most physical therapists recommend during rehabilitation:

• Stretching: Before beginning any exercise, stretching is important, and should never be neglected. After a proper warm-up, most personal trainers recommend stretching your legs as a way to ready the body for exercise to prevent injury. Skip stretching and you could actually increase you knee injury risk.
• Strength training: Leg strength training is a fundamental part of any rehabilitation program, with both isometric and compound exercises recommended as part of a strength training workout. Most exercises targets the main parts of the leg, such as quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. Weighted machines and barbells are often used in conjunction with exercises, such as squats, leg raises, and lunges.
• Endurance training: Strength training isn't the only thing you need for faster, safer recovery--muscle endurance is just as important. Without it, your muscles will quickly fatigue and render strength training useless. Most physical therapists will recommend low-impact cardiovascular exercises as part of a workout program. Exercises that full flex the knee joint are the best, such as stationary biking. Other good exercises include swimming, and to a lesser extent, walking. Avoid high-impact exercises, such as running, which can actually be harder on the knee joints.

Rehabilitation Exercises for Your Knees: A Final Thought

For the best results, listen to the instructions given by your physical therapist. A rehabilitation program should never be modified without consent from your physical therapist first--after all, these exercises are designed specifically to help only you, and not anyone else, recover faster post-surgery. With enough rest, proper exercise, and attention to proper exercise form, you'll be back to your old self in no time.