Home Recovery & Exercise

Recovery At Home

During the first few weeks at home, you adapt what you learned at the hospital to your own setting. You will need to prepare your home for your recovery.

1. You will need a firm chair with arms. It is easier to get up and down from a firm chair with armrests. Add two (2) firm pillows to low chair to provide proper height, as it is easier to get up and down from a higher chair surface rather than a low surface. 

2. Make sure your bed height is at least 18 inches high, as it  will be too difficult to get up and down from a low bed or a mattress on the floor.  Add a second mattress to your bed if necessary.

3. General safety Measures:

• Be sure all walking areas are free of clutter.
• Remove throw rugs.
• Watch for small pets and grandchildren.
• Make sure hallways/stairways and bathrooms are well-lighted.

4. Store items within easy reach, not in high or low cabinets.

5. Prepare meals ahead of time and store in freezer. (Helpful hints: have your favorite home delivery numbers handy and go grocery shopping before surgery).

6. If you are discharged with staples still in place, you may not shower unless otherwise advised by your surgeon.  After sutures or staples are removed, you may take a shower, but not a tub bath, until given permission by your surgeon.

Showering/Dressing

You cannot take a bath until your surgeon gives permission. If you have any question about this, please ask your nurse.

Showering in a tub/shower

Your new knee(s) may make it easier for you to get in and out of a tub/shower than before. However, in both the short and long run you should be concerned with safety as you enter and leave a tub/shower. Equip your tub/shower or your shower with safety handrails and a non-slip surface. Please arrange for this prior to your hospitalization, if possible.

Showering is good time to exercise your knee(s)

Bending your knees in order to wash your feet is a normal movement. Bend your knee to its maximum for washing. Then repeat the movement a few extra times as an added exercise. The warm shower water could help offset any initial discomfort.

Dressing

With a greater range of motion, you should be able to dress your lower body more easily shortly after your surgery.

Dressing is good time to exercise your knee(s)

Please focus on bending your knee(s) as far as possible when you dress. Think of this as another added exercise. Any discomfort you feel now will be step toward freedom from discomfort in the future.

As you know, much of what you normally do each day does not require bending your knee(s) to maximum. However, both showering and dressing do require extra bending of your knee(s). Please take advantage of this situation to repeatedly work on your knee range of motion as a normal part of your daily routine.

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