@ellerbracke If you want to progress you need to exercise the knee frequently, preferably daily. I think what my ortho had in mind was to not push it to the point of excruciating pain. When I had my first TKR, the PT I went to would bend my knee until I very literally screamed. I ended up hurting so much the next day that I couldn't exercise my knee at all. From what I have heard, this is not uncommon. You definitely need to work the knee and to do it pretty much daily. My ortho is opposed to is doing it to the point of extreme pain. He actually thinks patients can do as well with recumbent bikes, moving the seat closer and closer as you increase the bend in your knee, and also water jogging! He is totally, completely opposed to the equipment where you put your feet on a platform and it pushes your legs toward your body -- I forget the name of it. He is also opposed to icing the knee! According to him, ice prevents the blood from circulating to the wounded area, and the blood is healing. I think it was six weeks at which he was OK with ice. I know he sounds unorthodox but he is very successful and there are literally people from all over the country who go to him.
JK