How to extend the life of a Total Knee Prosthesis? Advice and Recommendations

• The physical recovery time for knee replacement surgery is one year.
• Maintaining your ideal weight will be key to prolonging the functional life of your knee replacement.
• Daily walking maintains joint flexibility, muscle tone and strength in the operated knee.

After knee replacement surgery, there is an immediate rehabilitation period and a period of maintenance of the prosthesis, so that its functionality is optimal over time.

The immediate period, in turn, is divided into two periods. 

The first corresponds to the days following surgery, where more than rehabilitation per se, the aim is to avoid forcing the joint and therefore it is more a stage of rest and care of the surgical wound. 

Mobilising, without forcing the joint and following the precise instructions of your orthopaedic surgeon. 

Once the stitches are removed and the surgical wound is healed, a rehabilitation period begins, properly speaking, in which mobility, flexibility and strength are gradually achieved, following at all times the pattern of exercises indicated by the physiotherapist. This period lasts until maximum mobility and strength are achieved in the operated knee, and lasts approximately one year.

As far as general advice is concerned, we will start with what you are not allowed to do after knee replacement surgery. Kneeling and squatting are forbidden.

On the other hand, and as general rules, follow these tips:

• Sit on high chairs to avoid bending your knee more than 90º. It is not advisable to go beyond this angle, as you would be forcing the rest of the biological structures (tendons, muscles, joint capsule) that make up the knee.
• Avoid keeping the knee in semi-flexion with a pillow under it when you are lying on your back. Over time, if you violate this posture, you may decrease the arc of extension of the leg. The leg should be perfectly straight while lying down or sleeping.
• Wear comfortable shoes, they will give you stability when walking.
• Prepare your home to be safe after knee replacement surgery: Clear the way to the bathroom, kitchen or bedroom. Remove furniture and appliances that are not absolutely necessary.
• Put a toilet seat on the toilet to prevent the knee from bending beyond 90°.
• Buy a shower chair, the toilet has to be safe, you can't risk it slipping. It could have undesirable consequences.
• Do not lift heavy weights.
• Take short walks around the house for the first few days before starting more intensive rehabilitation with your physiotherapist.
• Use the supports recommended by the orthopaedic surgeon: cane, crutch, walker, etc.
• You will be able to drive again, but the resumption of using your own vehicle will be indicated by your traumatologist.

Daily walking maintains joint flexibility, muscle tone and strength in the knee that has undergone knee replacement surgery. This is perhaps the best advice of all. Get into the habit of walking daily with your new prosthesis.

The main recommendations for prolonging the life of a total knee replacement are regular physical exercise, improving circulation to strengthen the muscles and, above all, maintaining a balanced diet to avoid being overweight.

Physical exercises

In general, you should follow the exercises prescribed by your orthopaedic surgeon and physiotherapist. We have already mentioned that this recovery will last a year, but as time goes by you will acquire more dexterity and greater mobility in an incredible way. In addition, your quality of life will improve because you will be pain-free, even from day one.

However, for the first few days after surgery, you may feel your knee swollen and swollen, as if it is stiff; this is normal. It may be a little painful. This will pass in a few days. You may be relieved by using cold compresses on the operated knee. This will help to reduce the swelling and you will feel better.

Regardless of the specific exercises to obtain optimal functionality of your knee, strengthening muscles in general and muscle groups in particular, you should walk daily. A few minutes for the first few days, increasing the walking time as indicated by your physiotherapist. But this will become a constant in your life: walking. This will ensure that the life of your prosthesis is prolonged. Your joint arches, coordination, tone and strength will be maintained simply by walking.

Do not attempt to exercise yourself in the gym, let alone using muscle strengthening machines.

Circulatory exercises

Circulatory exercises are as important as physical exercises. They will help to maintain a perfect arterial blood perfusion, which will result in a good functional state of the musculature. Circulatory exercises also undoubtedly promote venous return circulation, prevent the appearance of oedemas due to blood stasis and therefore help the operated leg to be in optimum condition for rehabilitation exercises.

Likewise, lymphatic drainage will be favoured by this type of exercise and therefore the sensation of tired or heavy legs will disappear.

These exercises will be taught to you by your physiotherapist, and you can do them at home; they are very simple. The important thing is to do them every day, to be consistent and to take care of your health. 

You can also see some of these exercises in our article on "Recovery time at home after knee replacement".

Balanced diet

Undoubtedly, keeping your weight in check will be a goal from now on. If you overload your body with extra weight, you are doing your prosthesis a great disservice, because you are putting all your extra body weight on it. 

This problem has repercussions on the bones on which the prosthesis is implanted, the femur and the tibia, and logically, this excess weight accelerates the wear and tear of these bones and destabilised the articular arch, due to the deterioration of the bones on which the different parts of the prosthesis rest.

For this reason, it is important to eat a healthy, balanced and complete diet, including the foods listed below:

• Increase fibre in your diet. It is very important to avoid constipation. It is recommended to introduce broccoli, peas and wholemeal bread.
• Eat foods rich in iron: red meat, green leafy vegetables such as spinach, and prunes are also good for constipation.
• Add foods rich in vitamin C to your diet, which will also help the iron in your food to be better absorbed. These foods include oranges and citrus fruits in general, melon, tomatoes, etc...
• Drink foods rich in calcium, such as milk and dairy products, green leafy vegetables and almonds.
• Drink plenty of water, at least 1.5 litres a day.

It is important to keep your prosthesis in perfect condition by seeing your orthopaedic surgeon at least once a year. He or she will know from a physical examination how your knee is doing and if there is anything that needs to be emphasised. 

For example, it is easy to gain weight over the years and the fact that the specialist is aware of this will do your prosthesis a lot of good. He or she will take care of all the factors that can impair the longevity of the prosthesis over time.

If what you need is a surgical assessment consultation with a traumatologist to undergo total knee replacement surgery, you can request a free appointment with one of our specialists by clicking on the image below: