What Not to Do After Knee Replacement – 12 Things

Knee replacement surgery or Arthroplasty helps to relieve pain and restore knee function in a diseased joint. Usually, people who suffer problems such as walking, climbing stairs, and activities that require their knees to support their body weight undergo knee replacement surgery. 

If you have recently undergone knee replacement surgery, This blog will guide you on what not to do after knee replacement.

The surgery is effective for knee joint issues, and the recovery rate is fairly good.

If you want your rehabilitation or recovery period to go well, it’s important to stick to a few rules. While it’s true that stretching and some exercises might aid recovery, some activities could cause more damage than good.

What not to do after knee replacement?

Read more to find out 12 things not to do after knee-replacement surgery. 

• Activities with a high risk of falling –

A knee replacement leads to loss of strength, balance, and restricted range of motion, which increases the chance of falling, resulting in damage to the prosthesis or hindrance in the healing process. Make sure to use a handrail while climbing up the stairs, avoid walking on wet surfaces, and be mindful of the surface you walk on to avoid tripping. 

• Shower without a rubber mat or chair –

With water and soap, the chances of slipping in the shower are high. Use a rubber shower mat or a shower chair to ensure you do not slip and injure yourself further. 

Sitting down for longer than 2 hours can increase the risk of developing a blood clot. Care must be taken to avoid it, especially till the 2-weeks following the surgery. It is advised not to sit down for periods longer than 50-60 minutes at a time; however, if the situation demands, you can prop up the leg using an elevated surface like a chair to keep the leg straight, ensuring fluid drainage is not hindered. 

• Too much weight-bearing shortly after surgery –

Using a walker, crutches, or other assistive devices is encouraged after a knee replacement surgery. It must be ensured that pressure is not placed upon the knee and that it doesn’t have to support your body weight for the days immediately following the surgery. 

• Running and jumping – 

Most patients inquire about “what Exercise not to do after knee replacement” following surgery. Yes, there are a few specific physical activities that you should avoid after knee surgery. Did you know that a knee suffers about three times the force when running compared to walking? Jumping increases this force at least two times. Thus jumping and running are strongly discouraged among people who have had knee replacement surgery until it is completely healed. 

• Sports that require changing directions – 

Sports like football, rugby, basketball, etc., require you to run at a fast pace and change directions suddenly and swiftly. Such a sudden and strong impact is not good for a healing knee and might cause damage to it. 

Almost 60 to 80 percent of people who have undergone knee-replacement surgery face difficulties in kneeling. Although there is not enough medical proof to suggest that kneeling might be damaging, you should avoid kneeling if it causes discomfort. 

While swimming is recommended as a low-impact exercise to recover from an injury, as the buoyancy of water prevents the risk of any impact, it is advisable to concern your doctor first. Swimming can be undertaken in about 12 weeks after the surgery, and you must avoid breaststroke while swimming. 

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Although it is considered low impact, hiking routes are often uneven, with erupting roots or rocks that can cause falls and be hazardous to the knee. Hence it is advisable to avoid hiking at all or at least in rough terrain after knee replacement.

• Skateboarding and Rollerblading –

Skateboarding poses a risk of falling and accidentally bending and twisting your knee. It must be avoided as it requires risky maneuvers that can be damaging to the knee. 

• High-impact Sports or Aerobics –

Extreme sports like aerobics or gymnastics must be completely avoided while recovering from a knee replacement injury. The high impact is combined with the high risk of falling, which might lead to more damage to the knee, restricting movement for longer than it would take in recovery. 

Read Also: Knee Pain and Joint Replacements (Arthroplasty) 

• Keeping your foot at an angle while lying down –

When lying down, you must ensure that your foot is at level with your hip; some people tend to place a pillow below the knee while sleeping, which must be avoided as it places your leg at an angle and risks hindering proper fluid drainage. Keep your knees straight while sleeping. 

Also Read: Choosing Implants for Knee Replacement Surgery

FAQs –

A knee replacement injury, owing to its seriousness, can impact your body majorly. A prosthetic will feel different while you indulge in activities like kneeling, rising from a chair, or climbing a flight of stairs. You must bear in mind that a prosthetic will not feel as good as a natural joint, although it will improve knee mobility compared to a diseased one. The presence of swelling, numbness, and stiffness is a common appearance that fades after the recovery time. 

Conclusion – 

As a follow-up question after knee replacement surgery, “what not to do after knee replacement” is frequently asked.

Knee replacement surgery is a major joint surgery with a long recovery process. It can often be challenging and painful to recover from; thus, you must ensure not to do the above mentioned things after a knee replacement surgery to avoid prolonging the recovery time. The recovery period is excruciating, and extending it can make your life more difficult. Keeping in mind the basic rule that your knee must not suffer any sudden impact or jerky movements is important.