Knee Replacement Recovery: Simple Tips for Better Healing

Knee replacement surgery can really help you feel less pain and move better. But getting better takes time and can be hard. At Gold Coast Knee Group, we want to make knee replacement recovery easier for you with simple, proven tips!

Why Is Knee Replacement Recovery Tough?

Sometimes, people don’t know what to expect after knee replacement surgery. They might:

• Not understand how much pain or stiffness they’ll have during knee replacement rehab.
• Not know how to use tools like crutches or walkers for post-knee replacement care.
• Feel surprised by how they feel after surgery.
• Get a long list of total knee replacement exercises that’s hard to follow.
• Wonder if their knee is healing right.
• Feel unsure about how much they should walk or move.

This can make people worry about their new knee. Some even feel unhappy with their knee after surgery. Our knee surgery recovery tips can help you feel more confident.

New Ideas from Research for Knee Replacement Rehab

At Gold Coast Knee Group, we have personally led 2 key studies on knee replacement rehab, which have changed our rehab approach. We learned exciting things from these two big studies to help people recover better after knee replacement surgery.

The Pedals Study

Back in 2018, I was fortunate enough to be working on the orthopaedic ward at Pindara Hospital. Dr Larissa Sattler was completing her PhD on knee replacement rehabilitation with Dr Chris Vertullo. Chris and Larissa believed that the standard 8-10 exercises booklet given to all patients in virtually every hospital following TKR was wrong.

So, they decided to test it in a high quality randomised trial.

Here is how it worked: 

• 60 knee replacement patients were randomised to either a 3 exercise pedaling or 10 exercise non-pedaling physical therapy postoperative protocol.
• Both commenced within 24 hours of surgery and continued after discharge till 14 days post-op. 
• Outcomes were assessed at 2 days, 2 weeks and 4 months.

Going into the research, we thought there would be no difference between the groups.

But, to everyone’s surprise, the shorter, easier exercise program with pedals was SUPERIOR to the standard protocol for all outcome measures!

That formed the foundation for the next trial – The KAPPA trial. 

The KAPPA Study

If less is more when it comes to exercise rehab in the first 14 days after knee replacement, then what should happen next? 

Should the person be referred to outpatient/private physiotherapy services?

So, in 2022, I was on my research journey and trying to help in any way to develop my skills in clinical research. Larissa needed someone to complete 100s of assessments (240 to be precise) on people after knee replacement for the KAPPA trial.

Here is how the trial worked:

• 60 knee replacement patients were allocated to a self-directed, unsupervised protocol for their postoperative rehabilitation (based on the Pedals Trial). 
• Functional outcomes (walking, range of motion, symptom questionnaire) were assessed preoperatively and at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 4 months following surgery.
• Patients were referred to supervised outpatient physical therapy if they met any of the following criteria: (1) knee flexion range of motion <90 degrees; (2) knee extension range of motion lacking >10 degrees; or (3) dissatisfaction with the progress of their rehabilitation.

The results showed that over half of the patients could self-direct their rehabilitation following knee replacement without supervised physical therapy while also maintaining excellent clinical outcomes. 

The takeaway: If you are going well, don’t overcomplicate it in the first 4 months. Just keep with the basics. After that point you can think about increasing exercises and returning to more demanding activities. 

Three Simple Rules for Knee Surgery Recovery

Here are three important knee surgery recovery tips to help you heal:

1. Less Is More
   You don’t need tons of knee replacement exercises. Just one or two, like pedaling or a stretch to straighten your knee, can help a lot. It’s about doing them the right way for better knee replacement recovery.
2. Gently Encourage, Don’t Push
   Your physiotherapist won’t push your knee too hard. Pushing can cause more pain and swelling, which slows down knee replacement rehab. Instead, we guide you to move gently to help your knee heal.
3. Keep Moving
   Moving is good for your body and mind! You can start doing things like walking or light chores when you’re ready. We’ll share knee surgery recovery tips to help you know when it’s safe to do more.

How Physical Therapists Help with Post-Knee Replacement Care

Your physical therapist is like a friendly guide for knee replacement recovery.

They will:

• Tell you what to expect so you’re ready for knee replacement surgery.
• Give you a few easy knee replacement exercises to do.
• Check how your knee is doing with specific tests to compare your progress to others to ensure you are on track.
• Help you feel confident as your knee gets stronger.
• Guide you to do activities you love, like walking or hobbies, when the time is right.

We don’t:

• Push your knee to hurt more.
• Give you too many exercises.
• Rush your healing.

Get Our Free Knee Replacement Recovery Guide

To make knee replacement recovery easier, we created a New Knee Recovery Guide. It’s free, and you can share it with friends! Download it at: gckneegroup.com.au/new-knee.

Wrapping Up

• Knee replacement recovery works best with a few simple specific exercises.
• Don’t push your knee too hard—it needs time to heal.
• Moving a little each day helps you get stronger.
• Your physical therapist is there to guide you, not make things harder.
• Check out our free guide for more knee surgery recovery tips!

Yours in knee health,
Dr. Adam Walker

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Knee Replacement Recovery

1. How long does knee replacement recovery take?
     Recovery varies, but most people start feeling better in 3-4 months. Full knee replacement recovery can take 12 months. Your physiotherapist will guide you based on your progress.
2. What exercises should I do after knee replacement surgery?
     Simple exercises like pedaling or gentle stretches are best for knee replacement rehab. Your therapist will give you 1–2 exercises to do at home.
3. Will I have pain during knee replacement recovery?
     Some pain and stiffness are normal after knee replacement surgery. Gentle movement and post-knee replacement care can reduce pain without pushing too hard.
4. When can I return to normal activities after knee surgery?
     You can start light activities like walking or chores in a few weeks, depending on your healing. Your therapist will share knee surgery recovery tips to help you return to hobbies safely. We have a section on the average time to return to common activities in our free New Knee Guide which you can download here: gckneegroup.com.au/new-knee 
5. Do I need a physiotherapist for knee replacement rehab?
     Many people can do well with knee replacement recovery at home with a simple plan. A physio plays a key role in ensuring your recovery is on track and if you need extra help, we can guide you.