Total Knee Replacement Rehabilitation [Guide for Physical Therapists]

By dpope2020

June 27, 2025

dan pope, exercises, fitnesspainfree, joint replacement, Knee, knee pain, knee replacement, knee replacement exercises, knee replacement physical therapy, knee replacement recovery, knee replacement rehab, knee replacement surgery, knee surgery, orthopedics, partial knee replacement, physical therapy, replacement, surgery, tka, tkr, total knee replacement, total knee replacement physical therapy, total knee replacement recovery

Total Knee Replacement Rehabilitation [Guide for Physical Therapists]

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In today's video we go over: Total Knee Replacement Rehabilitation [Guide for Physical Therapists] - FPF Show Episode 175

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 1:45 Are patients generally satisfied after a knee replacement surgery?
  • 2:46 What factors are associated with less satisfaction after a total knee replacement?
  • 7:21 Are 20% of patients really NOT satisfied after a total knee replacement?
  • 10:06 What's important for recovery after a total knee replacement?
  • 15:11 Are there any good protocols or recommendations for rehabilitation for our patients after total knee replacement?
  • 28:08 Evidence based recommendations for physical therapy rehabilitation after total knee replacement
  • 39:04 What should early stage rehabilitation look like? (0-6 weeks following total knee replacement)
  • 39:36 What is important patient education for post-op total knee replacement patients?
  • 40:56 Range of motion goals in early stage rehab following total knee replacement
  • 45:04 How should we initiate strengthening after surgery and what others strategies can you use to restore the quad?
  • 54:07 What should mid-stage rehabilitation look like? (6-12 weeks following total knee replacement?
  • 1:03:27 What should late-stage rehabilitation look like? (3+ months following total knee replacement)
  • 1:08:48 Key take aways for physical therapists
  • 55:46  What Physical Therapists NEED to Know About Knee Replacement Surgery

I've replaced all of my joints prophylactically...

- Dan Pope DPT,OCS,CSCS

Show Notes / Relevant Articles:

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Thank you!

Dan Pope DPT, OCS, CSCS

References: 

  1. Hospital for Special Surgery. (n.d.). Knee replacement: Types of knee replacement. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://www.hss.edu/condition-list_knee-replacement.asp#types

  2. Hospital for Special Surgery. (n.d.). Partial knee replacement: Overview and information. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://www.hss.edu/conditions_partial-knee-replacement.asp

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  11. Riddle DL, Jiranek WA, McGlynn FJ. Yearly incidence of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in the United States. J Arthroplasty. 2008 Apr;23(3):408-12. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2007.04.012. Epub 2007 Nov 26. PMID: 18358380.

  12. Bayliss LE, Culliford D, Monk AP, Glyn-Jones S, Prieto-Alhambra D, Judge A, Cooper C, Carr AJ, Arden NK, Beard DJ, Price AJ. The effect of patient age at intervention on risk of implant revision after total replacement of the hip or knee: a population-based cohort study. Lancet. 2017 Apr 8;389(10077):1424-1430. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30059-4. Epub 2017 Feb 14. Erratum in: Lancet. 2017 Apr 8;389(10077):1398. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30936-4. PMID: 28209371; PMCID: PMC5522532.

  13. Trieu J, Gould DJ, Schilling C, Spelman T, Dowsey MM, Choong PF. Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Total Knee Replacement in Patients <65 Years of Age-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med. 2020 Sep 29;9(10):3150. doi: 10.3390/jcm9103150. PMID: 33003394; PMCID: PMC7600907.

  14. Woodland N, Takla A, Estee MM, Franks A, Bhurani M, Liew S, Cicuttini FM, Wang Y. Patient-Reported Outcomes following Total Knee Replacement in Patients Aged 65 Years and Over-A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2023 Feb 17;12(4):1613. doi: 10.3390/jcm12041613. PMID: 36836148; PMCID: PMC9966398.

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  16. Kornuijt A, Kuijer PPFM, van Drumpt RA, Siebelt M, Lenssen AF, van der Weegen W. A high physical activity level after total knee arthroplasty does not increase the risk of revision surgery during the first twelve years: A systematic review with meta-analysis and GRADE. Knee. 2022 Dec;39:168-184. doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2022.08.004. Epub 2022 Oct 5. PMID: 36208528.

  17. Lawrence KW, Bloom DA, Rajahraman V, Cardillo C, Schwarzkopf R, Rozell JC, Arshi A. Return to athletics after total knee arthroplasty: a survey study of 784 recreational athletes across 12 sports. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2024 Sep;144(9):4115-4124. doi: 10.1007/s00402-024-05364-9. Epub 2024 May 22. PMID: 38777908.