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Our Location
East Shore Medical Centre
Suite 03-05A,
319 Joo Chiat Place,
Singapore 427989
Tel: (65) 6348 2605
Fax: (65) 6348 2606
Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre
Suite 12-10,
3 Mount Elizabeth Road,
Singapore 228510
Tel: (65) 6738 2628
Fax: (65) 6738 2629
Gleneagles Medical Centre
Suite 05-13,
6 Napier Road,
Singapore 258499
Tel: (65) 6474 0600
Fax: (65) 6474 0700
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Rehabilitation
What happens after my surgery?
Rehabilitation plays a very important role after surgery. Even the best surgeon in the world will
not be able to get good results without a motivated patient. You must be willing to undertake the
exercises which your physiotherapist shows you, while you are in Tan Tock Seng Hospital as well as
after leaving the hospital.
While you are in the hospital you can expect the following:
- Range of Motion exercises
- Ambulation exercises
Range of Motion exercises
The physical therapist will schedule your first inpatient visit shortly after surgery. Treatment
will address the range of motion in the knee. Gentle movement will be used to begin to help you regain
both the bending and straightening of the knee. If you are using a CPM (continuous passive motion) device,
it will be checked for alignment and settings.
Patient on a CPM machine
Exercise Regimen
Next, you’ll go over your exercise regimen. When you are stabilized, your therapist will help you out
for a short outing using your crutches or your walker. Treatment will proceed on a one to two times per day basis.
You’ll be on your way home when you can demonstrate that you can get in and out of bed safely, walk for up
to 10 metres with your crutches or walker, get up and down a flight of stairs and go to the bathroom.
It is also important that you regain a good muscle contraction of the upper thigh muscle (quadriceps) and that you
improve the range of motion of your knee
Ankle Pumps :
FLEX YOUR FOOT UP AND DOWNWARDS. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HELP PREVENT BLOOD CLOTS FROM FORMING. THIS SHOULD BE
DONE BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER SURGERY
 
Knee Flexion (in bed):
WITH THE HELP OF A TOWEL, USE THIS IS AID IN THE FLEXION OF YOUR KNEE.
Quadriceps Exercises:
USING A ROLLED TOWEL OR BOLSTER UNDER YOUR KNEE, EXTEND YOUR LEG. THIS WILL HELP TO
BUILD UP
THE MUSCLES IN YOUR THIGH AFTER SURGERY.
Knee Extension (in bed) :
LIFT YOUR LEG OFF THE BED. DO NOT EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR SURGERY AS SOME
OF THE MUSCLES WILL DEFINITELY BE WEAKER. HOWEVER, DO THIS EXERCISE TO HELP REGAIN THE TONE AND POWER OF
YOUR MUSCLES IN THE FRONT OF YOUR THIGH.
Knee Flexion (in chair) :
SITTING ON A CHAIR, USE YOUR UNOPERATED LEG TO TRY TO FLEX YOUR OPERATED KNEE. THIS WILL HELP TO REGAIN
THE FLEXION OF YOUR KNEE.
Knee Extension (in chair) :
USING YOUR UNOPERATED LEG TO SUPPORT YOUR OPERATED KNEE, LIFT THIS OFF THE GROUND.
What happens after I leave the hospital? Can I walk on my knee?
You can walk on your knee as much as you like!! After all, that was why you went for the surgery in
the first place! You will not damage the knee. However, you will need to look after the wound for
the first 2 weeks after the surgery. You should not get the wounds wet and the stitches should be
removed about 14 days after surgery. Occasionally, your doctor may use resorbable sutures which will
not require removal. However, you should still keep the wound dry. You can wet the wound 2 weeks after
the day of surgery.
Must I continue physiotherapy after leaving the hospital?
In most cases, we recommend that you come back on a regular basis for outpatient physiotherapy.
However, that does not mean that you only do the physiotherapy at Tan Tock Seng Hospital! You must
still continue with your exercises while you are at home.
Your therapist may choose one or more forms of treatment such as heat, ice, or electrical stimulation
to help reduce persistent swelling or pain. Continue to use your walking frame. You should be able in
most cases to put as much weight on your leg as possible right from the start as tolerated.
Range of motion exercises and techniques will be used to help you regain full bending and straightening
of the knee. An exercise programme that includes strengthening, balance, endurance, and functional
activities will be developed for you. Your strengthening programme will address key muscle groups
including the buttock and hips, thigh, and calf muscles. When you are safe in putting your full weight
through the leg, several balance exercises can be chosen to further stabilize and control the knee.
Endurance can be achieved through stationary biking, lap swimming, and using an upper body ergometer
upper cycle). Finally, a select group of exercises can be used to simulate day-to-day activities, like
going up and down steps, squatting, raising up your toes, and bending down. Specific exercises may then
be chosen to simulate work or hobby demands.
What happens if I develop problems whilst at home? Who should I call?
It is best that you let your doctor know if you develop any problems whilst at home. Please feel free to
call him to clarify your doubts.
What medications must I take after I leave the hospital?
In most cases, the only medications you will require are some pain medications to help you with your pain.
However, this should be only for a short duration. You should continue with your pre admission medications eg:
anti hypertensive medication, upon discharge.
Must I take any medications in the future?
The total knee is always at risk of developing an infection. This is especially so should you undergo any kind
of interventional procedure in the future. E.g.: any form of endoscopy or gastroscopy. These interventional
procedures will breach the protective lining of the gut or urinary tract and allow bacteria to enter the blood
stream which may settle at the site of the total knee prosthesis resulting in a knee infection. We suggest that
you inform your doctor prior to any interventional procedure.
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