Recovering from knee surgery is a slow and painful process. You go through hours of therapy, lots of pain medications, and loads of frustration as you are getting back on your feet. Now, you are walking better and your therapy is ending. What now? The one thing you don't want to do is stop exercising. That isn't good for your overall health or your recuperating knee.
Instructions
1. Don't stop the exercises you received during physical therapy. Continue doing them on your own several times a week and work on making them more difficult or doing them for an extended amount of time as your body finds them easier to do. They were given to you because they work and they have done you well so far. They will continue to build your strength and stamina as long as you continue doing them.
2. Talk to the personnel at the place you have been going for your physical therapy. See if they have a program that will allow you to continue coming in and using the equipment after your therapy stops. Many rehabilitation centers will allow you to continue coming in for a nominal charge. You will no longer be under a therapist's care, but you will be able to ask questions and receive help on the equipment as needed.
3. Do things on your own to help with your rehabilitation. Walk, take the stairs, and when your knees are up the the challenge, start riding a bicycle. The important thing is to build up your stamina; you've been out of action for quite a while. Start slow and build up as time goes on.
4. Discuss with your doctor when you return for your three and six month check ups what your limitations are concerning exercise. In most cases, you will not have any actual limitations placed on you because of your knees but you may have some due to other health concerns. Once you know what those are, you can work on building an exercise program for yourself.
5. Join a health club or return to the one you haven't attended in a while. Talk to a personal trainer about what you can and can't do based on your own experiences and advise your doctor gave you. Many health clubs have special low impact aerobic classes especially for older people or people who are recuperating from surgery. Try them out. Also, if your club offers water aerobics, get involved! It is perfect for someone just getting back in to the swing of things.
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