What To Expect After a Total Knee Replacement (TKR)

What To Expect After a Knee Replacement (TKR)?

What is Total Knee Replacement (TKR)?

Knee replacement or knee arthroplasty- is a surgical procedure to replace the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint aiming to reduce pain and restore the function of the joint. Total joint replacement has been described as one of the most successful orthopaedic procedures.

Why is knee replacement suggested?

Serious knee injuries are a strong risk factor for the development of OA. These include anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures, especially those combined with complex meniscal tears, as well as patella and total knee dislocations. Osteoarthritis is the most common reason for total knee replacement. In severe arthritis cases, a physiotherapist can help with the right protocol and supervise pain, movement (ROM), and strength can be improved. However, often, the arthritis is very severe, and nonsurgical treatments help very little. In such cases, a knee replacement is advised to restore the functions of the knee.

Are you the right candidate for Total Knee Replacement (TKR)?

Common indications that suggest you need TKR include

• Difficulty in walking or climbing stairs
• Constant pain which interferes with normal activities
• Knee inflammation and swelling that doesn’t get better with rest or medications
• Bowing in or out of your leg occurs
• When all conservative methods i.e.- medications and physiotherapy do not help

What to expect after a TKR?

The immediate Post TRK rehab will last from day 1 to 12 weeks. The primary goals are to make you get up from bed, sit, walk with the walker, improve knee bending to 90 degrees and strengthen your knee, hip and ankle. Walking without any support, sitting, or stair climbing is suggested mostly based on your surgeon’s preference. However, this will typically take up to 6 weeks. Achieving completer knee bending to 100-105 degrees and maintaining the strength of the quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteal and calf muscles becomes essential at this phase. Ice can be used to reduce pain and swelling, which might persist for many weeks after knee replacement surgery. By 8 weeks all activities should be done without any pain and movement limitation

When can an athlete return to sport after knee replacement?

After knee replacement, patients can return to sporting activity or even perform better than before surgery. Maximum improvement is noted in the first postoperative year. It appears quite obvious that rehabilitation and eventual return to sport should be a progressive and patient-tailored process. Athletes can start sport-specific rehabilitation around 4th month. It is suggested that 8 months is a good time frame to return to competitive sports.