After a knee replacement exercises

A knee replacement resurfaces a worn knee joint, capping the ends of the bones with metal and adding a smooth plastic bearing between them. It is one of the most successful operations there is for pain and function, but the surgery is only half of it: the result depends heavily on the rehabilitation you do in the weeks and months afterwards.

Two things matter most early on. The first is movement, especially getting the knee fully straight and gaining enough bend to walk, sit, climb stairs and get in and out of a car. The second is switching the thigh muscle back on, because the quadriceps becomes very weak very quickly after surgery. Some swelling and mild warmth around the knee are normal for weeks to months, as long as they are settling week by week and eased by elevation, movement and pacing. A knee that becomes hotter, redder or more painful rather than less is different, and is a reason to contact your surgical team.

Expect the first two weeks to be hard work, with sleep often disturbed. Most people are walking comfortably indoors within a few weeks, off walking aids by around six weeks, and back to most daily activities by three months. Improvement usually continues for a full year. The knee often still feels different from a natural one - tight at the end of range, mildly warm, sometimes clicky - which is expected rather than a problem.

This programme follows that usual arc: gentle range and muscle activation in the first weeks, progressive strengthening through the middle phase, then a return to walking distance, stairs and daily activities. Always follow the specific instructions from your surgical team, which take priority over any general guidance, and contact them if the knee becomes hot, increasingly swollen or suddenly much more painful.

Who this programme is for

People recovering from a total or partial knee replacement. In the early weeks, follow the programme your hospital team gave you. Sessions with us start once your surgical team has confirmed you have no restrictions. The early-phase exercises below are shown for reference only; this page complements, and does not replace, the specific advice and any hospital physiotherapy you have been given.