Knee Replacement Exercises before Surgery
Undergoing knee surgery can be an intimidating experience, especially if you are not prepared for it. By taking up some knee replacement exercises, you can prepare yourself for a better outcome. However, a little precaution while opting for such exercises is recommended, since not all exercises would give you the desired results. For instance, exercises like squats and lunges are tricky and they can prove more harmful than beneficial.
Here are a couple of easy exercises that you can start performing six weeks prior to the surgery. Pre-surgery exercises will help you in recovering faster.
Instructions
-
1
Leg Extensions without Weights:
Leg extension is a popular gym exercise but here you do not need any weights to perform the exercises.
- Sit on a bed or chair with your legs falling straight down.
- Sit upright to ensure your back is not being strained.
- Start the exercise by extending your lower legs forward. Your legs should be parallel to the ground once completely extended.
- Bring your feet back to the starting position, ensuring they do not go backwards. -
2
Heel Raises:
Another great exercise to strengthen your legs is heel raises. These exercises work mainly on your calves alongside your hamstrings.
- Stand against or a chair and balance yourself against the object. Your entire body should be straight, including your shoulders, back and legs.
- Maintain shoulder width with your feet to reduce chances of injuries. The wider your feet are the more strain your knees will bear.
- Slowly lift your heels while maintaining balance of your upper body. Do not bend or swing while raising your heels. Your body should go up in a straight direction.
- All weight should be on your toes. Once you have reached the maximum position, slowly come back to the starting position. -
3
Take it slow:
Before having a knee replacement surgery it is a good idea to do these exercises. However, it is very important that you take it slow and do not over-extend yourself. Obviously there are serious issues with your knee if you are getting surgery to replace it, so it is a good idea that you should take your time while performing the above mentioned exercises. You may want to hire a personal fitness trainer so that he or she can monitor your progress and make sure that you are not overdoing it. If you continue to put stress on your bad knee there is a real possibility that your replacement surgery may get complicated.
