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Total Knee Replacement-3/23/26
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Jun 8 8:57am | Replies (10)Comment receiving replies
@naturelyn
How important is it to be able to straighten the knee the knee to 0 degrees? My PT pushed really hard and got it to 0
but he next week it wouldn’t get past 5. Surgery was 2 months ago. My other leg is at 0.
Manipulating it really hurts and the knee hurts the next day.
Replies to "@naturelyn How important is it to be able to straighten the knee the knee to 0..."
I think wanting the 0 degrees has to do with being able to straighten your leg all the way for weight bearing in proper walking form. If you walk with a knee bend, your trunk will have to drop to that side with each step and rotate your hip and spine too much bringing the leg forward, which could bring on back pain and sciatica.
I had a 6” foam roller that I would put both ankles on while laying on my back on the floor or bed, relax and let the knees drop down naturally, stretching the leg for as long as I could stand it, watch TV or something to distract you. Maybe 3-4 times a day. You can use rolled up towels or a padded piece of 2”x4” board. I found that doing both legs at the same time seemed to work better than just doing the TKR leg.
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@laurabamford4015
That has happened to me multiple times- numbers up and down for no apparent reason.I think partly it’s swelling, even if you can’t see a swollen knee, and partly I think it’s just inflammation that comes and goes. For my first knee replacement I was disappointed in the extension and flexion numbers and my wonderful PT who I cannot locate now., had me get on the exercise bike and gently pedal for five or 10 minutes to warm it up and loosen things up. Then he measured again and the numbers were better by at least a few points.
It’s my opinion and my experience that if you just keep working on it at home gently, consistently, but not constantly necessarily, you’ll be fine. Slow and steady, like a turtle. 😉