A knee replacement is a surgical procedure that involves replacing a diseased/damaged knee joint with an artificial joint or prosthesis.
What to expect after a knee joint replacement
Symptoms following a knee joint replacement will vary between people. Common symptoms typically include; swelling, pain and knee stiffness. Symptoms usually increase with weight bearing activity and bending of the knee, straightening or twisting of the knee. Patients may limp or avoid weight bearing to compensate for the pain. Knee stiffness and pain may also increase with rest and may present as an ache, especially in the mornings. Stiffness will result in a reduced range of motion at the knee, meaning you may struggle to fully bend or extend your knee. A feeling of knee weakness and instability follow a knee replacement surgery is also common.
How can physiotherapy help?
It is vital to follow up with physiotherapy after any type of musculo-skeletal surgery. We can assist to reduce pain and swelling. Our techniques can increase mobility at the knee joint by using treatment techniques such as joint stretching, soft tissue massage on surrounding structures and advise on relevant stretches. Furthermore, we can help address weakness at the knee by recommending strengthening exercises to ensure, moving forward, your knee is a strong as it can be to reduce the risk of any further injuries.