Did you know exercises before knee replacement surgery can make a huge impact on how you recover post-op? In the lead up to your operation, prehabilitation (often called “prehab”) can set you up for a smoother, faster healing process and overall better surgery outcome. Understanding the benefits of exercise before surgery helps explain why this preparation is so valuable for your recovery.
To help you prepare, our North West Physio Eatons Hill exercise physiologists have put together four key exercises that can make all the difference to your recovery.
What is prehabilitation?
Prehabilitation is the practice of strengthening and conditioning your body before surgery. Think of it as training for recovery: just like an athlete prepares before competition, you can prepare your body for surgery and the healing process that follows.
For knee surgeries specifically, exercises before knee replacement surgery focus on:
- Strengthening the muscles that support your joints
- Improving your range of motion through targeted exercises before knee replacement surgery
- Building cardiovascular fitness
- Teaching you the movements you’ll need during recovery
- Reducing inflammation and pain
Benefits of exercises before surgery
Research consistently demonstrates the benefits of exercise before surgery, showing that patients who complete prehab programs often experience a smoother recovery and a quicker return to their favourite activities.
With the right guidance from our North West exercise physiologists, your anxiety about surgery and your recovery can shift into confidence knowing your body is as well-prepared as possible.
Here’s what research consistently shows, and what we celebrate with our patients every day:
Faster recovery times
Patients who complete exercises before knee replacement surgery typically:
- Leave hospital 1-2 days earlier than average
- Regain independence in daily activities weeks sooner
- Return to driving and work faster
- Need fewer follow-up appointments
Fewer complications
The benefits of exercise before surgery include significantly reducing your risk of:
- Post-surgical infections
- Blood clots
- Breathing difficulties
- Falls during early recovery
- Need for additional procedures
Better long-term outcomes
You’ll reap the rewards of exercises before knee replacement surgery for years to come with better surgical outcomes:
- Greater final range of motion
- Stronger muscles around your new joint
- Better balance and coordination
- Reduced risk of future injuries
- Higher satisfaction with surgical results
4 Exercise physiologist-approved exercises before knee replacement surgery to do at home
While every person’s situation is unique, here are four effective exercises before knee replacement surgery that our Brisbane exercise physiologists commonly recommend.
- Quad sets
- Sit with one leg bent and the other straight out in front of you.
- Place a rolled up towel under the knee of the straight leg.
- Tighten your thigh muscles, pushing the back of your knee down into the towel and hold.
- Repeat on the other leg.
- Glute bridges
- Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet on the floor.
- Lift your hips, squeezing your glutes and pushing your heels into the floor.
- Hold and lower slowly.
- Calf raises
- Stand holding onto a chair for balance.
- Rise up onto your toes.
- Lower slowly and repeat 10-15 times.
- Gentle knee bends
- Lie on your front or sit in a chair and slowly send your knee back towards the body, bending your knee as far as comfortable.
- Hold and slowly straighten.
Important safety guidelines
- Stop exercising and contact your healthcare team if you experience sharp, sudden pain that doesn’t subside with rest
- Watch for significant swelling or warmth in the joint
- Avoid exercises if you experience numbness, tingling, or dizziness
- Keep pain levels below 3/10 during exercises before knee replacement surgery
Why choose Brisbane exercise physiologists for your pre- and post-surgery journey?
Now you have a few great exercises to do at home, you might wonder: “can’t I just do exercises before knee replacement surgery on my own?”.
We love the enthusiasm, but seeing a professional exercise physiologist helps ensure your program is safe, specific, and effective for your body. Without guidance from a qualified healthcare practitioner , there’s a chance of doing more harm than good.
Without guidance from Brisbane exercise physiologists, we often see:
- Using the wrong technique or exercise, which can place stress on the knee or other joints.
- Pushing too hard or not enough, which can slow progress or even cause setbacks.
- Missing out on tailored progression, so the program doesn’t adapt as your strength and mobility improve.
Having an exercise physiologist guide you ensures every rep is moving you closer to a smoother recovery and greater confidence after surgery. An exercise physiologist takes into account your current strength, mobility, medical history, and any other conditions you may be managing. All of which, Dr Google or general advice cannot accommodate.
When to start prehab with an exercise physiologist
The sooner you begin prehab, the better. Starting 6 to 8 weeks before knee replacement surgery gives you time to build strength, improve flexibility, and feel confident with your program. Even a few weeks of targeted exercise can make a noticeable difference to your recovery.
But it’s never too late to start! Whether you have months to prepare or only a short time before surgery, a Brisbane exercise physiologist can tailor your plan to suit your timeline. Every session is an opportunity to build resilience, reduce risk, and set yourself up for the smoothest possible rehabilitation after your procedure.
Your recovery starts with exercises before knee replacement surgery
Your surgery date might be fixed, but your recovery timeline isn’t. The stronger, more prepared, and more confident you feel going into surgery, the easierr your journey back to the activities you love will be.
Working with our exercise physiologists at North West Physio Eatons Hill ensures you’re preparing your body for the challenge ahead with evidence-based exercises before knee replacement surgery.
Ready to fast track your recovery? Contact the North West Physio Eatons Hill team today!
