Total Knee Relacement with Dr. Harwin

Instructions after Total Knee Replacement by Dr. Harwin

To the Physical Therapist: Please direct most of your efforts to increasing the range of motion. Dr. Harwin encourages return to normal activities as soon as possible.

• Try to resume a normal walking pattern as soon as you can
• You may put as much weight on the leg as you feel possible
• Switch to a cane as soon as you are comfortable and secure
• You may go outside and resume normal activities as soon as you can

For the first 6 weeks after your surgery...

• The most important part of physical therapy is to...
• Achieve extension of 0° (the knee must straighten fully)
• And to get more than 90° of flexion (to bend more than a right angle)
• Never put a pillow under the knee…put a rolled towel under the ankle
• We want the knee as straight as possible, but also you must…
• Bend the knee past a right angle several time a day
• Do not begin exercises with weights until told to do so by Dr. Harwin
• Physical Therapist: Call Dr. Harwin if motion is not achieved

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