Knee Manipulation - What to Expect

After having your knee replaced you will find the toughest aspect of the rehabilitation is getting the flexibility back in the knee. As a patient, you must be ready not only physically but mentally to endure the discomfort that is experienced to get functional knee flexion and extension.

In rehabilitation the primary focus will be strengthening the surrounding muscles around the knee, decreasing pain and, inflammation and, working on getting a functional gait or walking pattern back. Over time these areas return to normal and you will find in 4-6 weeks things starting to improve. Working on knee flexion and extension and getting the full potential out of it will greatly determine how successful the surgery will be.

If during the course of rehabilitation your find you are not progressing past the 90 degree mark after a couple of weeks you may find that your orthopedic surgeon may consider manipulation.

This time frame can vary of course and the patients age and prior level of function are all taken into account in the decision making process.

You as the patient are taken back to the operating room put under a general anesthetic and the surgeon applies pressure to the knee to break loose the scar tissue and adhesions that are preventing you from bending the knee. This process takes very little time and the patient once stabilized can be sent back home. There is no surgical procedure done or loss of blood.

It will be imperative that both you and your physical therapist set up an aggressive exercise program to not only maintain the range of motion that was gained back in the manipulation but, to supersede those numbers to get your knee back to a functional range of motion.

You will need at least 110 degrees of flexion to drive go up and down stairs and carry on other activities of daily living. Getting an extension figure of 0 degrees is what you want to get a smooth gait pattern. Your may have some increase in pain after the manipulation however with the use of pain medication taken as prescribed and the use of cold therapy you should keep it under control.

This is the time to be aggressive with the exercises. if you have been unwilling to bend the knee in your first attempt at rehabilitation, following that pattern again will be unacceptable.

Please remember you will be living with your knee for the rest of your life make the exercise count. If you do your part here you will have a knee that create a whole new lease in life for you that will be pain free.

Richard Haynes
Punta Gorda, Florida.