General tips for recovery after knee replacement

Many surgeons do not impose restrictions on patients after knee replacement. As long as you are sensible it is safe to return to most activities when you feel able to within the first 4-6 weeks after surgery.

Having surgery is painful and you will be sore. This can last for the first four weeks after surgery. This is normal.

As you recover certain activities may cause you additional pain and discomfort. This is your body’s way of telling you to slow down. If this happens don’t push things. Leave that activity for a few days before trying again. Over time it will become more comfortable and you will be able to do more.

Finally, don’t force your body to do anything that makes your knee feel uncomfortable. This applies to all activities in all jobs.

After surgery the new knee joint can become swollen and painful if the person does too much or stiff if they do too little.

Some useful tips include:

• Keep up exercises even when back at work. Make time in the work schedule to complete exercises each day. This will help prevent stiffness and help to strengthen the muscles around the new joint.
• Avoid twisting the knee or swivelling on the ball of the foot. Be conscious of turning quickly as can sometimes happen in a busy work environment.
• Wear sensible and supportive outdoor shoes.
• Try not to rest for long period with the knee bent. Move regularly and straighten the knee. Getting the knee straight is as important, if not more so, than getting a good bend!
• Avoid kneeling on the new knee for the first 4-6 weeks while the scar is healing. When they do kneel, they may find that kneepads or cushions help to make it more comfortable. Unfortunately, not all patients feel able to kneel after a knee replacement. We suggest that if kneeling is important to their work, the person highlights this to their surgeon before their operation.

Additional resources

We suggest using the resources provided by the Royal College of Surgeons of England for additional information about general recovery following surgery.

Useful exercises to help with recovery are provided in the OPAL rehabilitation booklet and on the OPAL website. Click on the “Exercises” tab at the top of the page or the link under “Related pages” at the bottom of this page to access these exercises.

Further information can also be downloaded as a PDF from the Versus Arthritis website: