Ask about being referred to physical therapy before surgery. It will depend on your insurance, but I was fortunate that my insurance covers up to 100 PT Sessions per year. The first orthopedic surgeon that I saw had all of his patients do a course of PT pre-surgically. I did not like him and found another surgeon, but I did follow his advice of pre-surgical PT. There was a delay in surgery because I switched surgeons, but I continued to do twice weekly PT for a total of about 3 months and did the exercises on other days at home. I went into surgery fit and strong. I had the TKR that I recovered from very well and was discharged from PT within 3 or 4 weeks feeling better than I had in years. I had the other knee replaced 4 years later and asked for a pre-surgical PT referral. The PA had not been there during my first TKR and was a bit skeptical but humored me with the referral. I did 2 months of PT leading up to that surgery. That replacement went incredibly well and I was allowed to go home the same day after demonstrating that I could walk with a walker around the post op area. The next day I got rid of the walker. I did 2 weeks of PT and was discharged. I went into this process about 20 pounds overweight. I am now at a normal to low BMI and I alternate walking and running every other day. I feel great and yes, I have my orthopedic surgeon's blessing to run/jog.