Physiotherapy is an essential part of your recovery following a Total Knee Replacement
Following hospitals discharge (or discharge from inpatient rehabilitation), patients who undergo total knee replacement will participate in either home physiotherapy or outpatient physiotherapy at a location close to home.
The length of physiotherapy varies based upon patient age, fitness, and level of motivation, but usually lasts for about six to eight weeks. Two to three therapy sessions per week are average for this procedure.
At first, physiotherapy includes range of motion exercises and gait training (supervised walking with an assistive device, like a cane, crutches or walker). As those things become second nature, strengthening exercise and transition to normal walking without assistive devices are encouraged
Can rehabilitation be done at home?
All patients are given a set of home exercises to do between supervised physiotherapy sessions, and the home exercises make up an important part of the recovery process. However, supervised therapy—which is best done in an outpatient physiotherapy studio—is extremely helpful, and those patients who are able to attend outpatient therapy are encouraged to do so.
