How prepared are you for rehab at home?
This Primer runs through the practical things you need to take care of before your knee surgery
Page updated August 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
- Anaesthetic options that may affect your immediate mobility after surgery
- Things to buy or hire before the big day
- Are you well prepared to manage Walking Aids?
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Do you know why it matters to get fit before knee surgery?
- What are the main early concerns on arriving home after surgery?
- What do you know about preventing thrombosis?
It seems a bit counter-intuitive to think about fitness before your surgery.
However attention to optimising limb strength and range-of-motion now will help you greatly when it comes to your mobility once surgery is over.
You will also be better prepared for those days you might have to spend with a walking aid.
Physical fitness before surgery varies of course from person to person. In people who have been in chronic pain, like before a knee replacement, fitness levels may be very low and muscles may be considerably wasted. Inactivity may also result in weight gain.
Let's assess look at a few issues so that you can determine if you can improve things prior to your surgery.
Resources
Checklist of fitness things to think about before surgery - to download and print
Knee exercises for knee pain - Isometric Quads
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