If a patient suffers from ongoing knee pain and reduced mobility, there are a variety of conservative treatments they may try to help manage their condition and promote healing. But unfortunately, these first-line options may not offer full relief in certain cases. Depending on the specifics of a patient’s knee issue, total knee replacement (TKR) surgery may be necessary. Naturally, when considering this procedure, a patient may wonder: How long after total knee replacement can you walk? Let’s discuss the typical recovery timeline following knee replacement surgery.
How Long After Total Knee Replacement Can You Walk?
Upon completion of total knee replacement surgery, you’ll begin physical therapy to strengthen and mobilize your knee right away by standing up and walking for brief periods. You’ll likely be in the hospital for 1-2 days, where you’ll receive instructions on how to safely move around and use assistive devices such as crutches or a walker.
In the days and weeks to follow, you’ll focus on gradually increasing your amount of physical activity. Here are some guidelines for what to expect throughout your recovery, in terms of how long after total knee replacement can you walk and resume other activities:
- – Within 2-3 weeks post surgery, you should be able to walk a short distance – or for around 10 minutes – without depending on a mobility aid.
- – About 4-6 weeks after surgery, you’ll likely be cleared to go back to work as normal, if you have a sedentary occupation. However, if your job requires a significant amount of walking or standing, you may be advised to wait up to three months to return.
- – By week 12, many patients report a drastic improvement in their knee symptoms, including restored range of motion and knee stability, plus little or no pain with activity. Depending on your specific level of healing, you may be cleared to do any and all of your favorite physical activities again by this point.
In order to speed your rehabilitation and get the maximum benefits from total knee replacement surgery, it’s crucial to closely follow the post-surgery plan provided by your orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist. These directions will be designed to help protect and strengthen your knee and to promote the most successful possible outcome.
Address Your Knee Discomfort & Dysfunction with Dr. Soffer
Eager to return to a fulfilling lifestyle with no more knee pain? Dr. Soffer offers cutting-edge knee care for patients in and around Reading, PA. His extensive training includes a sports medicine fellowship with world-famous sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews, and he has successfully performed knee surgery on numerous patients. He also offers a full range of nonsurgical treatment options for various knee injuries and conditions. To learn more about Dr. Soffer and schedule an appointment with him, call our office at 610-375-4949.
