After your partial knee replacement surgery, your health care team will help you get up and show you how to safely sit up, stand, and use the bathroom.

You will also spend time in bed: a good time to do your exercises. When resting, please remember to place a rolled-up towel under your ankle to help straighten your knee.

More Advanced Exercises

When your surgeon and your physical therapist decide you’re ready, you will begin more advanced exercises that help strengthen and stretch the muscles around your knee. Repeat each exercise 10 times per session. Build up to 25 repetitions. Do 2 sessions each day.

Short-Arc Knee Extension

• Lie on your back. Place a rolled- up towel under your new knee and bend your other knee.
• Keeping your new knee on the towel, lift your foot several inches to straighten the knee. Hold for 3 seconds. Slowly lower your foot to the bed.

Straight Leg Raises

• Lie on your back. Bend your unoperated-on leg, keeping your foot flat on the bed.
• With your operated-on leg as straight as possible, lift that leg 1 foot off the bed. (At first, you might be able to lift your leg only a few inches). Hold for 3 seconds. Slowly lower your leg to the bed.

Standing Knee Bends

• Stand while holding on to a steady surface, such as a table.
• Bend your operated-on knee as far as it will go. Hold for 3 seconds. Slowly lower your leg.

Long-Arc Knee Extensions

• Sit in a chair with both feet flat on the floor.
• Straighten your operated-on knee as much as you can. Hold for 3 seconds. Slowly lower your leg.

*NOTE: You may be asked to take pain medications at least 30 minutes before your physical therapy or exercise sessions.