We've talked about ROM - now what about post op exercise?
Posted , 9 users are following.
The exercises I was told to do post op are pretty minimal really that don't involve much in the way of strengthening, but concentrate more on THE BEND!:-)))) I know some on here are going to gyms, with instructors, and some feel it's very important to seriously work out after the op. I can see that we need strong muscles to support the knee but when I went for my six week check the physio was very surprised at the strength I had in my legs. Now, all I've been doing for a while now is up to ten minutes on the recumbent bike and 10 minutes on the treadmill, leaning heavily on arms. At the moment I've built up to 7 or 8 minutes on the bike and treadmill, but my intention is not to go more than 10 minutes on each. I'd like to be able to also do a few minutes or so on the cross trainer when the other knee is done to improve core strength. I doubt I'll be walking miles every day, ever, but normal walking will do me fine. I'm not planning on being an athlete, but would like to be able to get up and down from a chair without leaning on arms and also go up stairs and down, without leaning on handrail. That's my goals. Something I read in several studies was that one of the reasons they prefer people to be a bit older before knee replacements is because they're not so active, so the knees last longer. So, the question is, if you don't need the extra strength for work or a hobby you really want to do, can you exercise to the point of wearing the knee out prematurely unnecessarily? It was reading the study about the Koreans loosening the glue with keep doing deep squatting that made me think about this. Reading that obesity wears the knee out faster - the extra weight on it - how good is weight training - pros and cons ???? Questions, questions...
0 likes, 25 replies
martinarvelo chris00938
Posted
Well, yes I think you certainly could, depending on the sort of exercise you are doing. I mean, straight leg lifts are going to strengthen the quads, but they are not going to put any pressure on the knee itself. . running, treadmill, and bicycle is going to cause a certain amount of stress . . tennis, golf, running a lot more. . .Strangely, my surgeon is opposed to static bikes. . . not sure about the recumbent bike. . I imagine that is less sgtress on the knee? Haven't got one, anyway . . I feel that once the knee is healed, the rom is good, just everyday life is good enough for me. .
chris00938 martinarvelo
Posted
I don't run - only walk on the treadmill, which the physio said wasn't any worse than walking on a pavement and possibly better. Because the bike isn't putting the body's weight on the knee as it rotates pedals it's one of the better ones for before and after TKR. Oh that's the first time I've heard of anyone against a bike. Interesting LOL! But it's bending with weight that wears the knee more, whether that weight is excess from the body or lifting weights, from what I understand. If someone does a LOT of bending from standing to squatting they wear their knee more, as the studies done in Korea show.
robin66848 chris00938
Posted
i guess it is all a matter of choice.
CHICO_MARX robin66848
Posted
Regular exercise will not wear out your knee. However, before embarking on a new activity path, check the list...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/do-s-and-don-ts-after-a-tkr-a-typical-list-541794
It's not just "wearing out" that's the problem. Any of the non-recommended activities can twist and torque the knee to the point of failure. Then you will need a revision and it's back to square one. I would take great care in making a good choice.
chris00938 robin66848
Posted
This has to be a personal choice Robin. Some activity is good - no doubt about that - you need decent muscle to support the knee and no-one would argue about that, but the vast majority of people do the post op exercises and normal daily life will give them that muscle - going up and down stairs for instance, but some activities WILL wear out the knee sooner, and each replacement after the initial one will cause more damage and be more difficult to get over, plus, of course, we'll be that much older and may have other health issues to deal with at the same time - we just don't know. But then again, of course we could be run over by a bus in five years time. But I think most of us will be very happy to just get back to a normal life without the weakness that knee arthritis causes, and do our best to make sure our knee lasts as long as possible. I look on it as a gift that I want to keep for as long as possible:-))))
There is regular exercise, such as a bike, that isn't weight bearing on the knees, so you get the benefits without the excess wear. I agree - for me daily exercise is important and I think life prolonging, but again, for me, it's got to be something that isn't going to wear the knees prematurely. But if there are activities that make you feel as though life is worth living and it isn't otherwise, it's down to you to make that decision:-))))) I do understand both sides of it.
robin66848 CHICO_MARX
Posted
Chico I agree. I am not doing any crazy stuff like running or playing tennis.
i do a lot of biking, walking, weight bearing exercise class. No aerobics or Sumba classes for me. Too much twisting. My theary is by the time my knee wears out I will be ready to slow things down. 😊
robin66848 chris00938
Posted
jan01779 chris00938
Posted
Im no athlete but the joint does need muscle to support the new prosthesis less strain on it. As you get older you naturally lose muscle mass so I think it's important to keep muscles strong or to build up. Not saying to athletic standard but exercise is good for us generally physically and mentally!. I'm limited due to aggravating already eroded joints due to RA and secondary OA and adapt stuff as necessary.. For instance no star jumps in Aquatone. The important thing is build up gently and nothing high impact. Yes I was told no deep squats but start on chair squats to break the squat and keep your hands to your chest and eventually add weight in holding to chest.. This will help legs and glutes all needed to get out of a chair. Loads of stuff on line
Keeping weight down less strain on the joint but light weights e.g. ankle weights or resistance bands will be ok as low impact. Check with your physio or if discharged ask.
So to answer your question light weights should be fine but check with your physio.. I guess you don't want aggravate the other non operated knee.
I m a fairly young TKR had mine in Dec at 55 but there are younger on here. I figure if I build my quads and keep them strong it's going to last longer. Yes so pleased I had it done.
All the best Jan x
There are lots of exercises on line for strenghthening you don't need the hymn or pool really but I find pool great.
chris00938 jan01779
Posted
Robin and you have both raised another question that I'm going to post now Jan:-)))))