TKR 8 weeks ago. I have done daily PT, but ROM is poor, stuck at 90. Need aggressive ROM exercises.

Just keep at it. I'm at 16 weeks and have just finally achieved 140 degrees and 0. It will come

How's the swellings? Is it this that's preventing the movement

Hi Cindy,

Keep at the recommended exercises. I was alost exactly the same. At 12/13 weels got to 117 bend. Now anm almost 8 months post op and all is great. Thank God.

Patience is Genius; Hold on; Hold fast; Hold out....you'll get there.

Take care,

Alan

You are ok. I too struggled with bending. It was very painful but you have to push til it hurts as you are breaking down scar tissue. I also had lots of swelling I would put the heel of my foot into the tool with a loop at the end that was designed to help lift your leg. By putting my heel in that I could pull my leg closer to my butt, by a little, and achieve a greater bend. Used this loop when laying down and bending my knee and when sitting in a chair.

This extra leverage really increased my bend. Around 7 to 8 weeks I would put my foot on a stool or chair behind me to increase my bend leverage. As I got more bend, I would choose a higher stool or chair.

At around 90 to 100 rom, I started doing the stairs in my house twice daily - I live on the main level - thank god. But did the stails for exercise. That was tough for me.

I was released from PT at 10 weeks with 130 rom. Not bad considering I started with less than 40 rom.

Of course I'm back at work since yesterday and having to stretch and bend a lot at work. Using differnt muscles at work and no more napping. Swelling again so back to icing. But I am maintaining what I achieved, I just have to work at it a bit.

Good luck, hope this helps. Remember to measure your success by your gains and no one else. Don't forget to ask your therapist for suggestions.

Sue

You seem to be doing well. I am 8 + weeks TKR and was praised when teached 90 degrees. I am somewhat older - 79 - and prior to op my knee was permanently bent so pleased I can now more or less straighten it.?

I have been told that reaching 90 is good and may well be the best I can get!

Have you tried the knee bend while lying down on floor/bed? My pt suggested I put a strap under my foot and pulled the knee back a little more. Similarly when sitting on a chair - bend knee as far as can and then put good leg over and push some more. Hope that's useful!

I've had both knees done,Aug and November this year,struggled to get knee bent,but after 3 weeks I started on a stationary bike,working up to 30 minutes daily.The ROM improved dramatically.Make sure Saddle is right height,( info for that on Google),but simply with the pedal at the bottom of the revolution your heel should just touch the  pedal.Too low and you will struggle to get over top dead centre,too high and you could put strain on knee and/or back.Hope that helps,good luck,don't forget to elevate and ice afterwards.

Try this:

With your hand firmly on a stair railing, place your foot on the first step. Gently lean into a stretch just until you feel a bit of resistance. Hold that stretch for a count of ten. Slowly move back into your original position. Repeat this, and you will probably notice that you will need to move your hand farther up the railing because you will have gained a bit more bend.

I usually work on this about five minutes or so then go about my day. When I come to stairs again, I just repeat it. Spreading it and other stretches out throughout the day makes them more interesting and less boring.

I do this often with both legs because I had both knees replaced in 2015 and want to keep loose.

It is an extremely effective way to gently work on that scar tissue while increasing bend. It is also something you can do anywhere there are steps and railings!

You're not stuck.  There are advances, regressions and plateaus...all normal during recovery.  Stuck = plateau.  PT can help break down that scar tissue and get past the block you've experienced.  Try these to get better ROM...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-heel-slide-exercises-526213

Patience is what you need!! This operation cut all the tendons, ligaments, nerves, and other tissue, in and around your knee. It is a very long road to recovery, with many setbacks, but also many advances. One step forward, two back but progress will come. You probably have scar tissue that is holding you back also. Have your PT show you how to massage your knee cap and the area around it. It won't feel very good the first few times but it will help break up any scar tissue that has formed. Use an oil like, Bio oil, cocoanut oil, vitamin E, Palmer's skin therapy oil, and massage, massage, massage. You will notice a difference. Your knee cap can be moved up, down and from side to side to also help break up the scar tissue. Been there done that. It does work. Remember to be patient with your self. It takes up to a full year or more to get back to normal. We've all been there and made it through. Good luck and hang in there.