Doing Stairs After Knee Replacement

After successful knee replacement surgery a patient should be able to return gradually to normal activities including climbing stairs says mayo clinic.

Doing stairs after knee replacement.

In a recent article in the toronto star dr. In knee replacement surgery surgeons cut away damaged bone cartilage and a ligament or two and add an artificial joint made of metal and plastic. David backstein operated on a patient at women s college hospital who walked hours after a knee replacement. He should experience significantly less pain than before surgery when engaging in stair climbing and other activities.

I have seen so many times the knee replacement and climbing stairs is a major problem for bilateral cases. For them i would advice to do enough strengthening exercise before even attempting stairs. You may wanna prepare in case you come straight home after tkr and have your husband set up a bed in the living room. Navigating stairs may be one of the exercises a patient performs in the hospital after surgery according to the american academy of orthopaedic surgeons.

The key to successful outpatient total joint replacement appears to be the use of modern anesthetic techniques that encourage early mobility motivated and healthy patients and effective multi modal pain management strategies. Once ready you will be able to place weight on the leg which you feel comfortable with and are most confident about. Stand with little or no help go on longer walks outside your hospital room and rely on assistive devices less dress bathe and use the toilet on your own climb up and down a flight of stairs with help. Assessing preoperative risk when trying to predict the likelihood of stiffness after a knee replacement the most important variable is the mobility prior to surgery.

He went home on the same day as surgery and even was able to climb stairs prior to discharge. For people who ve suffered years of pain and. Fortunately with some training and a little practice you can learn to negotiate stairs safely and with absolute confidence. How to find a physical therapist leading with the right foot.

People with a stiff knee after knee replacement may experience an inability to fully straighten the leg to bend the knee back or both.