Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: A Patient's Guide to Partial Knee Replacement using Minimally-Invasive Surgery (MIS) Techniques.
Edited By: Seth S. Leopold, M.D.
Last updated Wednesday, December 29, 2004
RehabilitationWhat types of physical therapy do patients require after partial knee replacement surgery for arthritis of the knee? Following hospital discharge, patients who undergo the mini knee
will participate in either home physical therapy or outpatient physical
therapy to a location close to home.
The length of physical therapy varies based upon patient age,
fitness, and level of motivation, but usually lasts for 2-4 weeks. Two
to three therapy sessions per week are average for this procedure.
At first, physical therapy includes range-of-motion exercises and
gait training (supervised walking with an assistive device, like a
cane, crutches or walker). As those things become second nature,
strengthening exercises and transition to normal walking without
assistive devices are encouraged. Can this rehabilitation after partial knee replacement surgery for arthritis of the knee be done at home? Most patients are discharged from the hospital directly to home, and do not require admission to inpatient rehabilitation.
All patients are given a set of home exercises to do between
supervised physical therapy sessions, and the home exercises make up an
important part of the recovery process. However, supervised
therapy--which is best done in an outpatient physical therapy
studio--is extremely helpful, and those patients who are able to attend
outpatient therapy are encouraged to do so.
For patients who are unable to attend outpatient physical therapy, home physical therapy is arranged.
What is the usual response to rehabilitation after partial knee replacement surgery for arthritis of the knee? Rehabilitation usually proceeds very quickly following the mini knee. Most patients are back to full activities--without the pain they had before surgery--by about a month after the operation.Are there risks to rehabilitation after partial knee replacement surgery for arthritis of the knee? This is a safe rehabilitation program with little risk.After full recovery and rehabilitation from partial knee replacement surgery for arthritis of the knee, what are the limitations on the patient? The goal of the mini knee is to return patients to a high level of
function without knee pain. The large majority of patients are able to
achieve this goal. However, since the joint replacement components have
no capacity to heal damage from injury sustained after surgery, we
offer some common-sense guidelines for athletic, leisure, and workplace
activities:
Recommended:
- Swimming
- Water aerobics
- Cross-country skiing or Nordic Track
- Cycling or stationary bike
- Golf
- Dancing
- Sedentary occupations (desk work)
Permitted:
- Hiking
- Gentle doubles tennis
- Gentle downhill skiing
- Light labor (jobs that involve driving, walking or standing but not heavy lifting)
Not recommended:
- Jogging or running
- Impact exercises
- Sports that require twisting/pivoting (aggressive tennis, basketball, racquetball)
- Contact sports
- Heavy labor
Since the joint replacement includes a bearing surface, which
potentially can wear, walking or running for fitness are not
recommended. Patients generally feel well enough to do this, and so
need to exercise judgment in order to prolong the life-span of the
implant materials. Swimming, water exercises, cycling and cross country
skiing (and machines simulating it, like Nordic Track) can provide a
high level of cardiovascular and muscular fitness without excessive
wear on the prosthetic joint materials.
Surgery for arthritis of the knee at the University of Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call the Bone & Joint Surgery Center at 206-598-3354 or Eastside Specialty Clinic at 425-646-7777 to make an appointment.
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