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Bi lateral knee replacements

eanders65
eanders65 Posts: 3 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Three months after double knee replacements, I am looking for a workout plan so I don’t overdo it but can tone my thighs up. Pt and Dr just say low impact but I am looking for routines.suggestions?

Replies

  • westrich20940
    westrich20940 Posts: 921 Member
    Anything that you are planning on doing, I'd check with your doctor and/or PT.

    Has your PT not given you a type of routine to get things strengthened again? I'd ask this question to them. But ... I have some knee pain/problems and plenty of people do - and the culprit can often be weak muscles surrounding/supporting the knee. So I'd think a low impact routine that would help strengthen your core (stomach/sides/back), glutes, quads, and hamstrings would be helpful with knee strength/mobility/stability.

    Body weight stuff or stuff with a booty/resistance band --- lunges, bridges, squats, dead lifts, etc.?
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,303 Member
    From my dim and distant past I seem to remember persons being advised to simply, lay flat, on the bed will do, then draw up the knees, probably one at a time not both together. Do a number of repeats on each knee and then increase the number of blocks of repeats.

    I'm surprised you have not been given exercise sheets. I think the above was seen as helpful even before the procedure.

    You will be doing gentle walking. Possibly try swimming. Tai Chi might be helpful.

    All the best,
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 35,466 Member
    Ask your PT.

    I row (boats when I can, machines when I must) mostly because I love it, but also because it builds/requires a decent amount of leg strength, but is low impact. Cycling is similar. I don't know whether either are good to do after knee replacement, though. (I have at least one torn knee meniscus, and suspect both; and have knee osteoarthritis. Orthopedist says surgery is in my future, but I'm deferring it as long as I can do so, and not have major pain issues.)

    I think Tai Chi might be iffy. My late husband was a Tai Chi teacher, and I practiced pretty regularly myself for around 8 years. Some Tai Chi styles do turns on a weighted knee, which puts a lot of torque on the joint. That's not impact, but it might not be suitable. I often see Tai Chi recommended to people with bad knees, and there are now forms designed for people with arthritis, but I think it's a "proceed with caution" thing, depending on a person's individual knee issues.
  • experimentofone
    experimentofone Posts: 28 Member
    I'm 3 years post double knee replacement.

    I agree with westrich20940 - work on your core (stomach/sides/back), glutes, quads, and hamstrings!!!!

    First though..... how's your recovery going? Do you still have a lot of swelling? How's your leg strength?

    I still have one knee that is a little weaker than the other, but other than that it's been great - went for a two mile walk this morning and another two miles at lunch.

    I have miscellaneous body parts that ache now and again (I'm 63) but my knees are one of them......lol.

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