Total Knee Replacement Physical Therapy Protocol

Can physical therapy effectively manage pain from knee replacement?

Your physical therapist at Release Physical Therapy will be here for you both before and after your knee replacement surgery. They will want to hear about your goals following surgery. Prior to surgery, your therapist will help get you stronger to prepare you for surgery. After your surgery, your physical therapy sessions will start with gentle pain management and manual therapy techniques to reduce swelling and inflammation and improve range of motion. Then your physical therapist will progress your physical therapy program to help you improve strength, gait, balance and function. Overall, your physical therapist wants you to get back to your pain free prior level of function.

What will a physical therapist do for knee replacement pain?

A knee replacement is a major operation and it is expected that there will be quite a bit of pain immediately following surgery. Your physical therapist is your best resource in reducing this pain. Once you have dealt with your pain management, your physical therapist can progress your rehab to include improving balance, strength, and returning you to your goals.

What are the benefits of doing physical therapy after knee replacement surgery?

Your physical therapist is an expert in providing the proper techniques to get you to where you want to be after a knee replacement. Your Release Physical Therapist is an expert in listening to your goals, establishing a plan of care and providing you knowledge on what you can do to better your mobility, pain and strength both in and out of your physical therapy sessions. 

Are you required to do physical therapy after getting a knee replacement?

Physical therapy is strongly recommended after a knee replacement and not going to physical therapy can result in negative long term outcomes post operatively. It is recommended you listen to your doctor for when to start at Release physical therapy and also recommended to schedule your appointments in advance for physical therapy even before you have surgery, so you can get the biggest impact out of your therapy. Most surgeons want their patients to start physical therapy immediately (1-3 days) following discharge from their procedure.

What are the best physical therapy exercises for knee replacement pain?

When you work with our team of expert physical therapists at Release Physical Therapy, you can trust in our guidance. We will help you understand what you should and should not do, in and out of physical therapy. Together, we will work toward the same goal: recovery and improved function. Your physical therapist will listen to you and determine how to advance your therapy sessions based on the individualized plan of care designed just for you.

What exercises are not recommended following knee replacement surgery?

When you work with our team of expert physical therapists at Release Physical Therapy, you can trust in our guidance. We will help you understand what you should and should not do, in and out of physical therapy. Together, we will work toward the same goal: recovery and improved function.

How do you know when it’s time to see a physical therapist about knee replacement pain?

Anytime you experience pain in your musculoskeletal system, you should seek advice from your physical therapist at Release Physical Therapy. Your physical therapist, doctor and you can collaborate together to determine the right timeline for your surgical procedure and how quickly to start physical therapy after your surgery. Your physical therapist will also guide you post-operatively on increasing your strength and balance as well as important red flags to look out for in your rehab journey.

How many times per week should I do physical therapy after knee replacement surgery?

Initially following surgery, you will want to see your physical therapist on a more frequent basis, 2-3 times per week to really work on the early mobility and swelling reduction. As the function improves, you can reduce sessions to 1-2 times per week.

How long do I have to go to physical therapy after getting a knee replaced?

Treatment timelines can truly vary, but with the right physical therapy plan and physical therapist, results will come in time. 

Here is a general guideline on what you can expect for your physical therapy timeline.

• Phase I (0-6 weeks): Mobility and Quadriceps control. Your therapist will restore your knee ROM from 0 to at least 120 degrees of knee flexion, work on reducing the need for an assistive device and regaining control of your leg muscles to improve function in standing. 
• Phase II (7-12 weeks): Return to normal daily and light recreational activities. Range of motion should be restored and you and your therapist will work on regaining strength. 
• Phase III (12+ weeks): Work on advanced strengthening and higher level functioning including return to appropriately recreational activities as indicated. You and your therapist can determine when you can return to your sports related goals at this time once you’ve regained your strength.