Knee replacement surgery is designed to help you get back to doing countless activities that you could no longer perform as a result of your nagging knee discomfort, but the surgery won’t allow you to get back to any and all activities. You will have some restrictions and limitations during your rehabilitation period and even after you’ve made a full recovery, and we want to shine a light on some of those restrictions so you don’t come into surgery with mismatched expectations. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some common limitations for patients in the wake of knee replacement surgery.
Restrictions After Knee Replacement
It should go without saying, but we’re going to say it just so that we’re abundantly clear. The following are just some general restriction guidelines and are in no way intended to provide clinical advice on the specific activities that you should or shouldn’t avoid after a partial or total knee replacement procedure. Only your treating physician can give you specific instructions as to which activities should be avoided following your replacement procedure.
With that said, here’s a look at some of the activities that your treating physician may recommend against after your knee replacement procedure:
- High-Impact Activities – You should be able to do a multitude of physical tasks once your recovery is complete, but your doctor may recommend against some high impact activities, like jogging or running. Your knee absorbs an increased amount of stress with every step you take when you’re jogging or running, and there’s a possibility that this stress could cause problems for your knee. Don’t get us wrong, we’ve worked with patients who have run 5Ks and half marathons after their knee replacement procedure, but that doesn’t mean you can just run however you want on your new knee. If jogging or running is something you hope to pursue again after your knee replacement procedure, talk with your surgeon and your physical therapy team to come up with a therapy plan that helps you gradually take on greater physical challenges until you can comfortably run again. But if you’re simply looking to find an enjoyable exercise, it may be easier to steer clear from high-impact activities like running or box jumps after a knee replacement operation.
- Contact Sports – Most knee specialists also recommend that you avoid contact sports after your knee replacement procedure. Patients can regularly return to non-contact sports like golf, tennis, pickleball and swimming, but contact sports can threaten the integrity of your artificial knee joint if you are contacted in the wrong way. Most surgeons will recommend that you steer clear of sports like football, soccer or basketball after you get your new knee.
- Jarring Knee Activities – Any activity that can put intense, jarring or prolonged strain on your knee should be avoided after your knee replacement procedure. Again, we know that those descriptions could encompass a wide range of activities, so it’s best to talk in specifics with your surgeon after your procedure and recovery. For example, some knee surgeons say that skiing is off limits after a knee replacement procedure, while others say it may be fine if you still have great balance and coordination and you’re willing to take things slow on the hill. If your knee will be repeatedly asked to handle varying amounts of stress during the activity, run it by your doctor first.
At the end of the day, a knee replacement operation will allow you to pursue way more activities without discomfort than you were able to prior to your procedure, but you will still need to be smart about which activities you pursue. We want you to be active and live a fulfilling life after your knee replacement procedure, but be mindful not to put too much strain on your artificial knee. As has been the theme throughout this blog, it is always in your best interests to consult with your surgeon or your care team to determine if an activity is safe enough to pursue along with the best ways to gradually begin pursuing those activities.
If knee pain is keeping you from some physical activities that you love, don’t sit on the sidelines any longer. Connect with Dr. Botero and see if a conservative or operative knee treatment plan could help you get back to doing all of your favorite physical activities. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, give Dr. Botero and his team a call today at (865) 558-4444.
