Advanced Knee Care

Knee Surgeon and Specialist Stefan D. Tarlow, M.D.

How to Get Back on Your Feet Quickly After Knee Surgery

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Predictors for Returning to Work After Total Knee Replacement


A study from Cleveland identified factors that are important in estimating a patients return to work following Total Knee Replacement surgery. Average time to return for all patients is 9 weeks.

An accelerated group returning to work in 4-5 weeks had some of these qualities: had a sense of urgency to return, were female, were self employed, had high mental health scores, had higher physical function scores, and had good overall health.
Patients with some of these qualities were likely to return to work 9 or more weeks after Knee Replacement surgery: a physically demanding job, were receiving Workman’s Compensation or had less pre operative pain.
In my practice – Advanced Knee Care – most patients return to work 4-12 weeks after Knee Replacement (a few return sooner, a few return later).
The report concluded that although the physical demands of a patients job has a moderate influence on the ability to return to work, individual characteristics including physical and mental well being and motivation are the most predictive factors for estimating return to work after Total Knee Replacement surgery.

Lifestyle Modification Key to Great Outcomes Following Knee Replacement Surgery

After recovering from knee replacement surgery, patients’ physical activity levels with their new joint were varied.
Total knee replacement is primarily for pain relief, it’s not a lifestyle intervention. After surgery patients need to change their lifestyle in order to attain expected improvement in Function and Mobility and Exercise Tolerance.
Most people who have the surgery are pleased with the results in terms of having less pain and gaining more day-to-day function. These people are not always pleased with their ability to participate in  recreational activities, such as participating in sports, yoga or gardening.
At the time of surgery, study participants reported spending about two hours a week being active, mostly doing moderate-intensity activities such as yard work, strength training and walking.
After surgery patients spent about 11 hours a week being physically active, according to findings published in The Journal of Arthroplasty.
Commitment to a lifestyle change including eating healthy, exercising regularly and avoiding harmful behaviors will go a long way towards improving a patients outcome from Total Knee Replacement surgery.

Internet Based Outpatient Physical Therapy

After recovering from knee replacement surgery, patients’ physical activity levels with their new joint were varied.

Total knee replacement is primarily for pain relief, it’s not a lifestyle intervention. After surgery patients need to change their lifestyle in order to attain expected improvement in Function and Mobility and Exercise Tolerance.
Most people who have the surgery are pleased with the results in terms of having less pain and gaining more day-to-day function. These people are not always pleased with their ability to participate in  recreational activities, such as participating in sports, yoga or gardening.
At the time of surgery, study participants reported spending about two hours a week being active, mostly doing moderate-intensity activities such as yard work, strength training and walking.
After surgery patients spent about 11 hours a week being physically active, according to findings published in The Journal of Arthroplasty.
Commitment to a lifestyle change including eating healthy, exercising regularly and avoiding harmful behaviors will go a long way towards improving a patients outcome from Total Knee Replacement surgery.

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