Activities after Knee Replacement: After You Leave the Hospital

Leaving the hospital with your new knee can be very exciting, and a little unnerving. In the hospital you had access to nurses and other healthcare professionals around the clock. Now you’re returning to your independence. You’ll still have the support of your healthcare team as you resume daily activities after knee replacement surgery. You’ll enjoy the comforts of home. However, this may be an uncertain time for you. Here’s a timeline of what you can expect in the first months after surgery.

The First Six Weeks at Home after Knee Replacement

You will continue the exercises you began in the hospital and gradually increase the number and duration of the exercises. Patients who have had knee replacement tend to agree that the exercise program is crucial. If you used a continuous passive motion machine in the hospital, your healthcare team may ask you to continue with it at home.

You will also be advised to gradually increase household activities such as cooking, cleaning and doing laundry. You will be allowed to take a shower without limitations when your incision heals.

Six to 12 Weeks after Surgery

At this point, new exercises may be added to your regimen, such as:

Toe and heel raises -- alternating between rising up on toes and heels while standing
Partial knee bends -- bending your knees slowly up and down while standing
Hip abduction -- moving your straightened leg to the side while standing
Leg balance -- standing on one foot at a time
Step-ups -- raising alternating feet onto a step and straightening your leg
Bicycle -- riding a stationary bicycle

If all is going well at this stage, your recovery will be coming along nicely. Your surgeon will tell you when you can return to activities like walking without a cane, walker or crutches; driving a car; and returning to work.

Walking and Stairs

During recovery, you will progress from using your walker or crutches to a cane. If you have no problems, you’ll graduate to walking on your own. Eventually you will be allowed to climb stairs. In most cases, patients begin with smaller-height steps and gradually progress to standard-height steps.

Driving

Your ability to drive depends on your progress during recovery and which knee you had replaced. Right knee replacements tend to experience a longer delay than left knee replacements. Your doctor will tell you when it’s safe to get back behind the wheel.

Work

Of course, determining the date you return to work will depend on the type of work you do; an office worker places less stress on a knee than a construction worker. People who do manual labor or tasks requiring squatting or climbing steep stairs may have to discuss vocational counseling with their surgeon.

Twelve or More Weeks after Surgery

After about three months, your healthcare team may have you perform more strengthening and stretching exercises. Avoid exercises that place too much stress on the knee such as jogging, tennis, football, basketball, skiing, or weight lifting. By this time you may be ready explore some knee-friendly leisure activities or sports such as golf or swimming.

Leisure and Sports

The following are some activities you may be able to pursue (not a complete list).

Walking
Bike riding
Golf
Moderate hiking
Dancing
Doubles tennis
Rowing
Bowling
Yoga
Boating/canoeing
Swimming (once your wound has completely healed)

Some activities may lead to the damage of your artificial joint over time due to wear and tear. The more vigorous the activity, the higher the risk of damaging the implant. Discuss your plans for sports and leisure pursuits with your doctor.

The following activities should be avoided:

Running/jogging
Team sports
High-impact aerobics
Jumping
Skiing
Singles tennis
Racquetball
Moving heavy objects
Any other high-impact sport that may cause knee stress or risk injury

Before pursuing sports or leisure activities, you should talk with your orthopaedic surgeon about whether or not they are appropriate for you following your recovery from knee replacement.

Last Updated: 11/13/2006