Exercises to Prepare for Knee Replacement Surgery

Total knee replacement surgery removes damaged and painful areas of the femur and tibia, replacing them with specially designed metal and plastic parts. In order to speed up recovery time, our experts suggest preparing for this procedure by performing several strengthening exercises in the weeks leading up to your knee replacement.

Adopting a regular exercise program prior to your knee replacement can make your recovery much more manageable. Strengthening the muscles surrounding your knee will help you properly support your new joint.

Our doctors and staff suggest performing the following exercises one to two times a day, every day leading up to surgery:

Ankle Circles: While lying on your back, bend your ankles up, pulling toes toward you, then circle your ankles—both clockwise and counterclockwise—five times each.

Knee Bends: While sitting on a chair, bend your knee back as much as you can. Hold for five seconds, then return to the starting position and relax. Repeat five times for each knee.

Sitting Kicks: While sitting on a chair, straighten your knee as much as possible while lifting your leg in front of your body. Hold for five seconds, then slowly lower your leg and relax. Repeat five times for each knee.

If you have questions about how to prepare for your knee replacement, or if you’d like to schedule an appointment with a joint replacement surgeon at Black Hills Orthopedic & Spine Center, call (605) 341-1414.