I had the new knee installed a bit over 1.5 weeks ago on a Wednesday, the 3rd of January, 2024.
This narrative is for anyone who might be considering getting a new knee. It is just a hodge podge of my own slightly odd observations.
Where to go for a new knee:
The operation was done by EBJ, Everett Bone and Joint's Dr Bill Huang (Wong) and his staff. There have been so many positive testimonies from former patients and his count on knee installation is over 5000 apparently. High marks from me!
Narrative begins:
An example of the bruising caused by the surgery. My entire leg was bruised but no pain was noted. The baby aspirin regimen thinned my blood enough to lose the bruising in 4 weeks. |
Physical
Therapy for knee surgery:
Surgery January 3, 2024
Preoperative
Exercises:
Ankle Pumps: Gently pull toes up towards your knee then
point towards the floor. Both ankles
together or alternating. 30xs every
hour.
Quad Sets: Press the back of your knees down into the
surface as if you were trying to lock your knees. Hold for 3 seconds, relax. 2 x 10, 2xs a day. Advanced: use pillow under heel
Glut sets: Squeeze buttocks together as tightly as
possible. Hold for 3 seconds. 2 x 10,
2xs a day
Side Leg Slide
(Hip abduction) Lie on your back, Slied
your operated leg out to the side keeping your kneecap and toes up. Keep your leg straight by tightening your
thigh muscles; do not lift your leg.
Gently return to the middle.
Heel Slides: Slide operative leg heel towards buttocks,
keeping heel on the surface. Slowly
return to starting position. Once you
have gone as far as your leg will go, slowly straighten leg. 2 x10, 2xs a day.
Straight Leg Raises: Keep your non operative leg bent for
support. Slowly lift operative leg off
the bed, keeping the knee straight throughout the entire motion. Lift no higher than the height of the
bent knee. Slowly lower.
Long Arc Quads: (Knee Extension) Sit your back against a chair. Slowly straighten your leg and hold for 5
seconds. Use non surgical leg
assist your surgical leg into
extension. Hold for 20-30 seconds, then
relax
Post surgery
: Pretty much the same as presurgery.
Quad Sets: Press the back of your knees down into the
surface as if you were trying to lock your knees. Hold for 3 seconds, relax. 2 x 10, 2xs a day.
Glut sets: Squeeze buttocks together as tightly as
possible. Hold for 3 seconds. 2 x 10,
2xs a day
Side Leg Slide
(Hip abduction) Lie on your back, Slied
your operated leg out to the side keeping your kneecap and toes up. Keep your leg straight by tightening your
thigh muscles; do not lift your leg.
Gently return to the middle.
Heel Slides: Slide operative leg heel towards buttocks,
keeping heel on the surface. Slowly
return to starting position. Once you
have gone as far as your leg will go, slowly straighten leg. 2 x10, 2xs a day.
Straight Leg Raises: Keep your non operative leg bent for
support. Slowly lift operative leg off
the bed, keeping the knee straight throughout the entire motion. Lift no higher than the height of the
bent knee. Slowly lower.
Long Arc Quads: (Knee Extension) Sit your back against a chair. Slowly straighten your leg and hold for 5
seconds. Use non surgical leg
assist your surgical leg into
extension. Hold for 20-30 seconds, then
relax
Advanced PT
from home visits: (Sean)
Double leg Heel rises
with support, calf raises:
While standing next to a chair or countertop for support,
raise up on your toes as you lift your heels off the ground. Return heels to ground and repeat. 10 xs, 2 sets, 2xs a day, hold for 5 seconds.
Walker Marching: While standing with a walker, lift up one
knee allowing it to bend as your raise your foot off the floor. Set the foot back down and perform same on
the other leg. 10 times, 2 sets, 2xs a
day.
Walker squats: Stand in a walker with feet shoulder width
apart. Begin by bending knees and
lowering your body into a squat, as if you would be sitting into a chair. Don’t sit, your body weight should be directed mostly touching the chair
with your buttocks, straighten your
knees and rise back up to a fully standing position. Knees should bend in line with the 2 toe and
not pass in front of the foot.
10 times, 2 sets, 2 xs a day.
Walker Hip Abduction: While standing up using a walker, raise your
leg out to the side. Keep your knee
straight an maintain your toes pointed forward to the entire time. 10 times, 2 sets, hold 2 seconds, 2 xs a day.
Walker Hip Extension: While standing up using a walker, extend
your leg behind you. Do not allow your
back or chest to move. Also, keep your
knee straight the entire time Lower your
leg back down and repeat. 10 times, hold
2 seconds, 2 sets, 2 xs a day.
Quad Sets: Press the back of your knees down into the
surface as if you were trying to lock your knees. Hold for 3 seconds, relax. 2 x 10, 2xs a day. Advanced:
use 5 “ pillow under heel.
Heel Slides: Slide operative leg heel towards buttocks,
keeping heel on the surface. Slowly
return to starting position. Once you
have gone as far as your leg will go, slowly straighten leg. 2 x10, 2xs a day.
Heel slides advanced : Attach a strap to operative foot and pull the
heel as far as you can. Count to 5 then
release. 10 times, hold for 5 seconds, 2
sets, 2 xs a day.
Out Patient Physical
Therapy: Joel Anderson (Anderson
Physical Therapy , Arlington WA)
Double leg Heel rises
with support, calf raises:
While standing next to a chair or countertop for support,
raise up on your toes as you lift your heels off the ground. Return heels to ground and repeat. 15 xs, 2 sets, 2xs a day, hold for 5 seconds.
Walker Marching: While standing with a walker, lift up one
knee allowing it to bend as your raise your foot off the floor. Set the foot back down and perform same on
the other leg. 15 times, 2 sets, 2xs a
day.
Walker squats: Stand in a walker with feet shoulder width
apart. Begin by bending knees and
lowering your body into a squat, as if you would be sitting into a chair. Don’t sit, your body weight should be directed mostly touching the chair
with your buttocks, straighten your
knees and rise back up to a fully standing position. Knees should bend in line with the 2 toe and
not pass in front of the foot.
15 times, 2 sets, 2 xs a day. Lower to bed with out siting.
Single leg balance: While standing up using a walker, raise your
non-operative leg out to the side. Keep your knee straight and maintain your
toes pointed forward to the entire time. Raise leg forward, then raise leg
back. 15 times, 3 sets each leg, hold 2 seconds, 2
xs a day.
Standing Balance: Stand on operative leg, balance for 30
seconds. 5 times, 2 sets, 2xs a day.
Step downs: 4”
step, Step down with your non operative
leg until the heel touches, then come back up.
10 times, 3 sets, 2 xs a day.
Standing Knee Extension: Straighten operative leg while standing, step
your weight on to the non operative lege keeping it straight. 20 times, 2 xs a day.
Quad Sets: Press the back of your knees down into the
surface as if you were trying to lock your knees. Hold for 3 seconds, relax. 2 x 10, 2xs a day. Advanced:
use 5 “ pillow under heel.
Heel Slides: Slide operative leg heel towards buttocks,
keeping heel on the surface. Slowly
return to starting position. Once you
have gone as far as your leg will go, slowly straighten leg. 2 x10, 2xs a day.
Heel slides advanced : Attach a strap to operative foot and pull the
heel as far as you can. Count to 5 then
release. 10 times, hold for 5 seconds, 2
sets, 2 xs a day.
Out Patient
Physical Therapy Version 3 (assigned March 9, 2024): Joel Anderson (Anderson Physical Therapy ,
Arlington WA)
Heel Slides: Slide operative leg heel towards
buttocks, keeping heel on the surface. Slowly
return to starting position. Once you
have gone as far as your leg will go, slowly straighten leg. 2 x10, 2xs a day.
Heel slides advanced : Attach a strap to operative foot and pull the
heel as far as you can. Count to 5 then
release. 10 times, hold for 5 seconds, 2
sets, 2 xs a day
Standing Balance: Stand on operative leg, balance for 30
seconds. 5 times, 2 sets, 2xs a
day. JUMP TO THE LEG AND CATCH BALANCE
Walker Marching: While standing with a walker, lift up one
knee allowing it to bend as your raise your foot off the floor. Set the foot back down and perform same on
the other leg. 15 times, 2 sets, 2xs a
day. FLEX KNEE FULLY
Walker squats: Stand in a walker with feet shoulder width
apart. Begin by bending knees and
lowering your body into a squat, as if you would be sitting into a chair. Don’t sit, your body weight should be directed mostly touching the chair
with your buttocks, straighten your
knees and rise back up to a fully standing position. Knees should bend in line with the 2 toe and
not pass in front of the foot.
15 times, 2 sets, 2 xs a day. Lower to bed without sitting.
Jump Balance: Jump from foot to foot and balance on each
side as much as possilble.
Kettle Ball Squats: Right leg forward, left leg
straightish. Reach down and bend the
front leg to pick up kettle ball. 10xs, 2 sets
Partial Lunge to 14”: right leg forward and back leg bending,
working the front leg most. 10xs, 2 sets