Strength training and surgeries

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mdmccall34
mdmccall34 Posts: 4 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am scheduled for surgery on my knees. I just had ankle surgery in nov. I am able to ride the bike only and some of the circuit. What others can I do since I cant do stairs or walking. Drs requirements before and after surgery.

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  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,464 Member
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    Swimming or water walking/aerobics if you don’t actually swim.
    You really need to get advice from physical therapy because each procedure and each person has unique needs.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,209 Member
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    Each situation is different, so only do whatever your physical therapist or surgeon recommends.
    For strength training, you could ask them if you could do stiff-leg deadlifts and wall sits, which work the legs without moving the knee. Instructions are on youtube.
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
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    As has been said, everyone and every surgery is going to be different and you need to be asking a physical therapist. If you don't have physical therapy already set up/in the works, you need to ask your surgeon about it.

    After all of my knee surgeries (four in total) I was non-weight bearing for 6 weeks and had zero energy to do anything other than PT which was very minimal during those six weeks because in addition I also was only allowed to passively bend my knee at most 60 degrees. While the first exercise that I was allowed to do was swimming (and walking), I was expressly not allowed to do breaststroke until probably 5 or 6 months out, and even then it was very minimal.

    Meanwhile, had I only had say, a MPFL repair (as opposed to a tibial tubercle osteotomy, the last two with MPFL repairs), my restrictions and my PT would have been very different.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,811 Member
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    It depends on what the precise nature of what your surgery is.

    The recovery from my two knee surgeries was completely different and the rehab exercises I was given were very different too. For the first one it was as precise as I could swim once the incision healed but was forbidden to do breast stroke kick but was allowed to do freestyle kick.

    After my second surgery I was basically sent away after the follow up consultation and told I had no restrictions.
  • debrakgoogins
    debrakgoogins Posts: 2,033 Member
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    Agree with @Cherimoose What recommendations does your doctor or physical therapist have? I would start there.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    edited January 2020
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    Asking your surgeon would be priority. Of course the answer to how many days of this or that will be a random number they feel "comfortable" guessing as there really isn't much to go off of as far as evidence. Just as in life we take a educated guess by personal experience for certain things.

    Example when I had my chest surgery I was talking to my surgeon during surgery and he started laughing while asking me if my training for the day involved chest. He mentioned with my individuals case to refrain from near maximal sets and if anything happened to the closures to give him a text and he could reclose the incision though he thought the chances would be rare.

    After surgeon I would have your trainer work with surgeon as next best option.

    If you don't have a trainer, your rehab specialists if needed.

    Lastly specifically ask your surgeon what to avoid if anything like I did. What time periods as well. If surgeon suggests to avoid training I would certainly ask why as in most cases it's proven to aid with recovery.
  • mdmccall34
    mdmccall34 Posts: 4 Member
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    Thanks everyone for your responses, therapist and drs both said when incisions healed I can go swimming, it took 6 weeks to heal and that’s when this corvid -19 hit. They closed the gyms , so I’m working out at home.

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