South Hills Orthopaedics Sports Medicine & Physcial Therapy: Total Knee/Hip Replacement Instructions

  • Below you will find some videos of movements that will be beneficial at improving your hip/knee strength and mobility prior to surgery. Evidence has shown that doing physical therapy before surgery improves patient satisfaction and strength following surgery and it has been shown to shorten the recovery process following surgery.
  • When you are ready to start outpatient therapy
  • A few important points
    • The movements below are not meant to increase your pain.
      • It is ok to feel stretching, muscle fatigue, and/or slight discomfort
        • Any pain should should be mild, reduced with ice, and go away within 24 hours
        • If a movement is causing a significant increase in pain, that particular movement should be avoided or you may be able to reduce the pain by going through less motion or not pushing as hard.
    • They should be done gently.
    • Below you will find a list of basic movements that are safe and focus on light mobilization and muscle control which are two key components to improviong your ability to recover from surgery more quickly and effectively
      • These movements can be done every day 2-3x/day as they are meant to be easy and not require singificant set up or equipment
    • Below you will also find a list titled Over achiever movements
      • These movments are a little more demanding and should be done every other day
      • They are meant to challenge you but in a healthy way. That means make you tired or challenge your mobility but any soreness afterwards should be mild and gone the next day
      • You should not do these movement again until any soreness as completely subsided from doing them previously
  • Basic Movements
    • Movement #1: Seated Slide: Easy Position to maintain motion without pressure on the knee or hip
      • 8-15x
      • Can be done gently multiple times per day (4-5x)
    • Movement #2: Counter Rock Heel to Toe: Light stretch for the back of the legs and shoulders
      • 8-15x
      • Can be done gently multiple times per day (4-5x)
    • Movement #3: Hip Extension Pump: Movement to open up the front of the hip gently
      • 8-15x
      • Can be done gently multiple times per day (4-5x)
  • Over Achiever Movements
    • Movement #1: Bridge with emphasis on stretching the quad
      • 8-15x, hold each 5 seconds
      • You should not feel this in the lower back, if you do don’t go as high or stop doing it
    • Movement #2: Hip extension leg lift leaning over edge of bed
      • 8-15x, hold each in the air 5 sec
    • Movement #3: Seated quad isometric
      • 8-15x hold each 5 sec
      • Do you best to push lightly to feel only muscle tension without singificant knee pain
    • Movement #4: Feet elevated into arm rest of couch, physio ball or pillows lying on your back
      • 8-15x, hold each 5 sec