Knee surgery is often the first step toward relieving pain and restoring function, but achieving a full recovery requires more than just an operation. Physical Therapy is essential to regaining strength, mobility, and confidence. In Fair Lawn, NJ, Twin Boro Physical Therapy provides personalized rehabilitation and support, helping patients meet each recovery milestone after knee surgery.
Phase 1 Milestones
The initial recovery stage focuses on reducing pain and gradually reintroducing movement to the knee, laying the groundwork for successful rehabilitation.
- Reduced Pain: Twin Boro therapists use various strategies to relieve discomfort and effectively manage pain. This includes applying ice, elevating the leg to decrease swelling, using compression techniques, and manual therapy.
- Initiation of Early Movement: Successfully starting passive range-of-motion exercises helps prevent stiffness and promote healing. This is often supported by using a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine to maintain flexibility and circulation.
Phase 2 Milestones
As pain and swelling decrease, patients gradually work toward bending and straightening their knee and regaining strength in the muscles surrounding and supporting it.
- Increased Range of Motion: During this phase, most patients aim to achieve at least 90 degrees of knee flexion, critical for performing basic activities like sitting and walking.
- Early Strength Training: Therapists introduce low-impact exercises designed to strengthen the muscles around the knee, particularly the quadriceps and hamstrings.
Phase 3 Milestones
As the knee’s range of motion improves and pain continues to subside, the focus shifts to helping patients regain the ability to perform everyday activities.
- Full Weight Bearing: At this phase, patients can often transition from using crutches or a walker to bearing full weight on the knee. We guide patients through this process to ensure the knees can support their body weight without pain or instability.
- Improved Balance and Coordination: Balance exercises such as standing on one leg or using a balance board are introduced to enhance stability and prevent falls.
Phase 4 Milestones
The next recovery phase aims to build strength and endurance in the knee and leg muscles. This is a crucial period for preparing to return to more demanding activities, including work, sports, or hobbies.
- Advanced Strength Training: The intensity and complexity of exercises are increased to restore the knee’s strength and function to pre-surgery levels or better.
- Cardiovascular Conditioning: Low-impact aerobic exercises, such as swimming, cycling, or elliptical training, are introduced to improve overall fitness and help patients return to an active lifestyle.
Phase 5 Milestones
The final recovery phase focuses on returning to sports or other high-impact activities. By the end of this phase, the knee should feel strong, stable, and pain-free.
- Return to Sports: Depending on the type of surgery and individual goals, Twin Boro therapists provide sport-specific training to ensure a safe return to high-impact and intensity activities. This may include plyometrics, agility drills, and sport-specific strengthening exercises.
- Final Range of Motion Goal: Achieving near or full range of motion (typically between 120-135 degrees of knee flexion) is necessary for deep knee bending, such as squatting or kneeling.
Recovery is Within Reach!
At Twin Boro Physical Therapy, our comprehensive post-surgical rehabiliation programs guide patients through each recovery step, from managing pain and swelling in the early days to regaining full strength and function in the following months. If you have undergone knee surgery in Fair Lawn, NJ, or plan to, please call 201.794.4417 or schedule an appointment online. We are here to help you reach each recovery milestone after knee surgery and return to the activities you love.
