WHAT IS THE BEST EXERCISE AFTER KNEE REPLACEMENT?
In most cases, you can start your physical therapy within the same day as your knee operation. After your knee replacement, you will feel much less pain and you will be able to move around much more freely than you did before. You will, however, need to rehab the right way with Huntington physical therapy to strengthen your leg, restore your movement and help you walk.
What Can I Expect From Physical Therapy?
When it comes to physical therapy, everyone’s treatment is different depending on their pain. Some treatments you can expect from physical therapy are:
- Stretches and exercises
- Ice and heat
- Massages
- Nerve or muscle stimulation
After your knee replacement, Huntington physical therapy will check your balance, check to see if you have any pain in your knee, check if it hurts to raise and lower your leg, check to see if you can stand on one leg and they’ll see if you have weak muscles in your thigh that support your knee. This will give your physical therapist a greater understanding of how they can help you rehab effectively.
What Exercise Works Best?
Many different physical therapy exercises work well for a knee replacement. Step-ups and step-downs are crucial to helping you walk up and down the stairs unassisted and the single-leg stance is important for your balance and coordination, however, the most important exercise after a knee replacement is the stationary bike. This exercise will improve and maintain your range of motion. The seat should be adjusted so that your knee is slightly bent when you push the pedal to its furthest point. The end goal of this is to be able to ride the stationary bike for thirty minutes without stopping.
What Can I Do?
Huntington physical therapy can help you rediscover your balance, improve your range of motion, strengthen your muscles and help you learn how to use your new knee. Without the help of a physical therapist, you may be putting yourself at risk of further injury. Huntington physical therapy will make sure you are staying on track and will help you walk independently in no time. For more information, call us at 631.421.8700 or visit us online today!