Post-discharge Rehabilitation Guidelines for Artificial Total Knee Arthroplasty

  1.6 weeks or less Discharge from the hospital is not the end of rehabilitation, but the beginning of rehabilitation, now you must rely on yourself and your family, you need to support the double crutches for about 6 weeks, always use the knee brace to protect the knee joint, this period of exercise is mainly to strengthen muscle strength, maintain the acquired joint mobility, continue the training of daily life activities, and live at home basic self-care. 6 weeks should be followed up in the hospital to review, in order to develop the next rehabilitation program.  2.3-6 months after surgery During this period, the patient can switch to a cane or walker, and the joint mobility should be maintained at full extension to about 100° of flexion. The simpler and more effective exercises that should be done are: (1) Straight leg raise: lean back against a pillow, first flex the affected limb, then straighten it, tense the muscles on the leg as much as possible, then slowly raise it 20-30cm, insist for 10 seconds, slowly put it to bed, keep the muscles tense for 2 seconds again, then relax, 3 times a day, 10 movements each time.        (2) Sliding wall: stand straight with your back against a smooth wall, slowly slide down 20 cm, then stand straight, 3 times a day, do 30 movements each time, you can take a break in the middle.     (3) Heel sliding exercise: tie one end of an elastic bandage to the side of the table and one end to the affected ankle, turn your back and then face the table and slide your heel.   (4) Riding a stationary bicycle: This is the best rehabilitation exercise after knee replacement if the mobility of the joint allows. However, ask your therapist to help you adjust the height of the seat and gradually increase the number and intensity from half a lap to one lap, without being impatient, but always in a gradual manner.  (5) When conditions allow, you can also swim, you can make it a year-round exercise. Of course, it is not possible to take walks as a long-term training, early need to be accompanied by family members, for safety, but also in order to help when necessary, but also for the daily progress of someone to witness and encourage. Later on, you can walk and shop independently, but do not lift anything too heavy and pay attention to the safety of walking, especially to prevent falls.  At 6 months, you will be reviewed again, and every 6 months thereafter, you will have to go to the hospital for a review of the x-ray card so that the doctor can check the affected limb in order to identify possible problems and solve them in a timely manner; knee pads should be kept on hand to increase and maintain joint stability.