ANKLE PUMPS
Slowly push your feet up and down. Repeat this exercise several times, as often as every 5 or 10 minutes. Begin this exercise immediately after surgery and continue it until you are fully recovered.
QUADRICEPS SET
Tighten your thigh muscle. Try to straighten your knee. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 times during a 10-minute period, rest one minute and repeat. Continue until your thigh feels fatigued.
KNEE STRAIGHTENING EXERCISES
Place a small rolled towel just above your heel so that your heel is not touching the bed. Tighten your thigh. Try to fully straighten your knee and to touch the back of your knee to the bend. Hold fully straightened for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat until your thigh feels fatigued.
BED-SUPPORTED KNEE BENDS
Slide your foot toward your buttocks, bending your knee and keeping your heel on the bend. Hold your knee in a maximally bent position for 5 to 10 seconds and then straighten. Repeat several times until your leg feels fatigued or until you can completely bend your knee.
STRAIGHT LEG RAISES
Tighten your thigh muscle with your knee fully straightened on the bed, as with the quadriceps set above. Lift your leg several inches. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Slowly lower. Repeat until your thigh feels fatigued. You also can do leg raises while sitting. Tighten your thigh muscle and hold your knee fully straightened with your leg unsupported. Repeat as above. Continue these exercises periodically until full strength returns to your thigh.
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SITTING SUPPORTED KNEE BENDS
While sitting at your bedside or in your chair with your thigh supported, place your foot behind the heel of your operated knee for support. Slowly bend your knee as far as you can. Hold your knee in this position for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat several times until your leg feels fatigued or until you can completely bend your knee.
STANDING HIP EXTENSIONS
Lift your operated leg backward slowly. Try to keep your back straight. Hold for 2 or 3 counts. Return your foot to the floor. Repeat 10 Times. Do 3 or 4 sessions a day.
STANDING HIP ABDUCTION
Be sure your hip, knee and foot are pointing straight forward. Keep your body straight. With your knee straight, lift your leg out to the side. Slowly lower your leg so your foot is back on the floor. Repeat 10 times. Do 3 or 4 sessions a day.
STANDING KNEE RAISES
Lift your operated leg toward your chest. Do not lift your knee higher than your waist. Hold for 2 or 3 counts and put your leg down. Repeat 10 times. Do 3 or 4 sessions a day.
SITTING UNSUPPORTED KNEE BENDS
While sitting at bedside or in a chair with your thigh supported, bend your knee as far as you can until your foot rests on the floor. With your foot lightly resting on the floor, slide your upper body forward in the chair to increase your knee bend. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Straighten your knee fully. Repeat several times until your leg feels fatigued or until you can completely bend your knee.
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