After your knee replacement, we'll get you started on a comprehensive rehabilitation plan designed exclusively for you. The goal is to make recovery easier and quicker and to improve quality of life and long-term mobility.
Immediately Following Knee Replacement
Our ultimate goal after knee replacement surgery is to restore your independence, get you home safely and make sure that you have assistance at home.
After surgery, we will move you to the recovery room, where you'll stay for one to three hours. Your nurses will connect you to several machines — pain pumps, drains and urinary catheters, for example — and closely monitor your vital signs.
Moving after Knee Replacement
After your knee replacement surgery, you will be encouraged to get up and move as soon as it is practical and safe and depending on how you are feeling. Our orthopaedic recovery team will assist you in walking short distances with crutches or a walking frame. The sooner you can start moving, the fewer complications you may face in your recovery.
Managing Pain
If you are experiencing pain, we will use our unique multimodal pain management system, called the Penn Multimodal Perioperative Pain Protocol. This protocol allows us to better manage post-surgery pain throughout every step of your recovery to reduce the need for pain medications and narcotics.
Read about the benefits of our joint replacement pain protocol
How long do you need to be in the hospital after knee replacement?
The length of your stay in the hospital following knee replacement depends on many factors that your surgeon will discuss with you to determine the best option for you. Most patients can expect to spend one night in the hospital before being discharged the day after surgery to begin recovery.
In some cases, your surgeon may determine that you do not need to stay overnight and you may be given the option to be discharged on the same day of surgery. To be eligible for Same Day Knee Replacement, you would need to be in relatively good health and with a dependable support system to assist in your recovery at home.
Preparing for Home and Rehab after Knee Replacement
On the day you go home, we will prepare you with all of the information and direction you'll need during recovery, including:
- Incision care
- Medications
- Required follow-up visits
- Restrictions (i.e., no driving, working or showering)
Your therapist will make sure you're correctly using your walker or crutches so that you're comfortable and not in danger. If we determine that an inpatient rehabilitation center would work best for your recovery, one of our social workers will work with your insurance company to ensure the stay will be covered.
If you're returning home, the hospital coordinator will arrange for you to have physical and occupational therapy at your house, beginning the day after you leave the hospital. How often and for how long you need therapy depends on your specific needs.
We have a close relationship with Penn Therapy and Fitness. There are locations in Philadelphia, the suburbs and South Jersey.
Physical Therapy and Exercise after Knee Replacement
One of the best ways to make the most of your new knee is by incorporating home exercises into your daily routine. Keep in mind that in addition to the following exercises, you want to focus on bending and straightening your knee to the best of your ability. Do not use any weights with your legs or knees or do resistance exercises on a bike, treadmill or other gym equipment.
Once we give you clearance, reserve as little as 30 minutes a day for the following exercises, designed to build strength in the muscles surrounding your knee joints and increase your range of motion.
Do each exercise twice a day, 10 times during each session (once in the morning and once in the afternoon) or as instructed by your doctor. If you have any questions as you exercise, do not hesitate to contact your physical therapist or us directly.