Activities after knee arthroplasty

Ifyouarecandidateforsurgery,youprobablyexpectyourlifetochangeandtobewithoutanypainafterthesurgery.Youshouldknowthatthatchangewillnothappenthroughthenight.Goodresultcanbeprovidednotonlyfromthesurgeonbutyouhavetoparticipateactivelyintheprocessofyourrecoverytoo.Youcandomostoftheactivitiesasbefore,butyoushouldavoidthoseactivitiesthatstressyourknee.

Your knee is the biggest ankle in your body. Afterthesurgerymostimportantisearlymobilizationandactivities.Butyourmuscleswillbeweakenedbecauseof fewer activities before the surgery as a result ofgreatpains.Thereforeitisimportanttostartyourmobilizationasaprocessofrehabilitationassoonaspossible.Your doctor and therapeutist will give you specialdirections for wound care, pain control, diet, andexercises.The therapeutist will visit you day after the surgeryandwillexplainyouhowtostandbythebed,howtowalkorhowtouseyournewkneewhileyoulieonthebed,howyoushouldmoveyourfeetmorefrequentlyinordertoprovidebettercirculationinyourlegs.Durabilityofyourhospitalstaywilldependfromyourconditionandrecoveryperiod.

Before you leave the hospital you have to performfollowingactivities:

-Standingfromandlyingonthebedbyyou;-Bendingyourkneeasmuchasyoucan;-Straightenyourkneeasmuchasyoucan;- Learn to walk with the underarm support on the flat floor, up and down stairs;- You have to know all exercises that you shouldpracticeathome.

Yourkneeafterthedismissalfromthehospitalmaybestillswollen.Toreducetheswellyoushouldpositionyourlegonhigherlevelonapillow,wearelasticsocksandcoldcompresses.(15-20minutesaday)

Atthebeginningyoumayneedhelpfromotherpersonsathome.Followingadviceswillhelpyouinyourrecoveryathome:- Displaceyourfurnitureinordertoprovidefreespaceforyoutowalkoncrutchesfreely.- Remove all cables and rugs from the floor to preventyoufromstumblingdown.- Positiononeshowerchairinyourbathroom,supportforhandsonthewallsandpositionyourloungeatahigherlevel.- Usesupportivedeviceswithlonghandleforputtingonyourshoes,catchingobjectsfromthefloor etc.

Basicadvicesforwoundcare:

- Thewoundshouldbecleananddryallaround- Avoidbathsbeforewoundistotallyhealedorsu-turesareremoved.- Informyourdoctorincaseyourwoundbecomeredorleaks.- Informyourdoctor incaseyouhavehighbodytemperatureabove38ºC.- Theswellonyourkneemaylastfrom3-6monthsafterthesurgery.- Painundertheknee,chestpain,havingproblemswithbreathingcanbesignsofthromboembolism,soifyounoticeoneofthesesymptomspleaseinformyourdoctor.- Takeyourprescribedtherapyontimeandregu-larly.- Takecareofyourbodyweight.

ACTIVITIES AT HOME

BACK TO EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES

�hen you�ll be at home you should stay active.�hen you�ll be at home you should stay active.You’ll experience significant improvement in your recovery.- Repeatallexerciseslearnedinhospital.- You can drive a car after 6-8 weeks after thesurgery,orearlierifyouagreewithyourdoctor.- Sexual activities are aloud when you�ll beprepared.- Youcansleeponyourbackonbothsidesofyourbodyoronyourstomach.- Returningonyourworkdependsfromthetypeof

workyoudo.Earliestperiodforreturningtoyourjobisfrom6-8weeksafterthesurgery.- �alkasyoucan,butrememberthatwalkingcannotreplaceexercising.

From other activities, swimming is recommended(whenwoundwill behealed and sutures removed).Youshouldavoidallactivitiesthatwilladditionallyburdenthekneelikeplayingtennis,football,skiing,jogging…Donotliftloadheavierthan20kg.