DAY 1

On the day after the surgery, knee exercises, which were taught to you prior to the surgery are begun. All these exercises help in improving body circulation and the circulation of the operated limb thereby reducing the swelling. It also prepares you for early walking. These exercises also help in reducing the incidence of calf clots (deep vein thrombosis and lung complications pulmonary embolism) secondary to calf clots.

1. Exercises to be done by you.

a. Static Quadriceps Exercise: In this exercise, you tighten your knee cap till the count of 3 seconds and loosen it for another count of 3 seconds. On the first day , it is done in the set of 5, every hour.

b. Calf pumps: Moving the foot up and down, at the ankle joint to its maximum. This exercise reduces the incidence of calf vein clots. On the first day it is done in set of 5 every hour.

c. Upper limb exercises:

Done either in sitting or propped up in bed.

i. Raising the arms by the side.

ii. Spreading the arms by the side.

iii. Bringing the arms together in front.

iv. Elbow bending and straightening.

v. Spring dumbell.

All to be done in set of 5, twice a day.

d. Deep breathing exercises: This is done with a machine called triflometer. To be done in set of 10, twice a day.

2. Exercises done by the CPM :

This exercise helps in regaining early range of movements ( ROM ). The machine works on electricity. It helps in bending and straightening your knee without your active efforts. It has a feature of pre-setting the angle of flexion and time delay at the end of flexion and extension. On the first day the angle of flexion is set from 10-30 degrees and delay time is set at 5 seconds. The CPM is given for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon.