Knee replacement and reversal of muscle atrophy after surgery

Knee replacement and reversal of muscle atrophy after surgery

Once your knee replacement surgery, or knee surgery in general, is complete and you have completed your physical rehabilitation program, you will be asked to continue some type of exercise program. For many, this will include everything from strength training at a local gym to walking around the block. To achieve the greatest productivity from your surgery, it is recommended that you perform strength training and other exercises if you want to keep the muscles around your knee strong to improve your quality of life and protect the prosthesis currently implanted.

I recommend that my patients and clients work on a range of exercises depending on their age, previous level of function and expectations. Today, as many younger adults have had their knees replaced, many of them expect to be able to enjoy their former activities again within reason as quickly as possible.

The exercises to reverse the muscle wasting process that I include in the exercise routine are leg presses, leg extensions, hamstring curls and calf raises. These are exercises that I use and continue to use to keep my knee replacement running and performing at a high level. Use a weight that you can initially get between 15 and 20 reps. You want to build endurance in the muscle first. Working with weight that is too heavy can cause significant muscle soreness, discomfort and swelling if you are not careful. You start slowly and increase your resistance as you get stronger and more confident with the exercises.

I instruct patients seeking strengthening after rehabilitation to first warm up slowly on a stationary bike for 10 to 15 minutes to loosen the muscle and surrounding soft tissue around the knee. Follow the stationary bike with two sets of leg presses for 20 reps with slow, controlled movements. Do not take your knees past the 90 degree mark at this point. Follow the leg presses with seated leg extensions for 15 to 20 reps. Then move on to hamstring curls, which can be performed either seated or prone for the same number of reps. These exercises should initially be performed for two sets each.

Of course, as you get stronger in the coming months, you can increase your workload as tolerated. Avoid very heavy weights that could put strain on the prosthesis. Heavy weights are not needed to rebuild your leg or legs and bring them to an ideal level. Remember that your rehabilitation after joint replacement surgery should never end.

Also, make sure you consume a high-quality protein to reverse muscle atrophy and after knee surgery. Consuming high-quality protein such as skinless chicken breast, salmon, ground turkey breast, and egg whites are just a few of the ways to increase your protein intake during the recovery period.

Taking a quality protein powder supplement is also key to ensuring you get the fuel your body needs to build stronger muscles not only in your legs, but also by reversing the atrophy process throughout your body.

Inspired by Richard A Haynes