Exercises after surgery

The follow-up treatment of an operation for knee joint arthrosis depends primarily on the selected surgical procedure. Depending on whether an attempt has been made to preserve the knee joint by means of various possible surgical procedures or whether the patient has received a partial or total endoprosthesis, the follow-up treatment may vary. Especially with regard to the necessary resting period and permitted full load.

In principle, however, the aim of follow-up treatment is to get the patient back into everyday fitness as quickly as possible. For this reason, the follow-up treatment starts on the day of the operation with light passive mobilization exercises, as well as manual therapy and lymph drainage. This phase is extremely important to prevent the structures in the knee joint from sticking together and to ensure the best possible mobility of the knee joint.

Gradually, the patient will be able to put more weight on the leg again, as well as to bend and stretch it. Therefore, the follow-up treatment always adapts individually to the patient’s healing progress. Over time, the post-treatment consists mainly of various exercises to strengthen, stretch, improve coordination and stability and to increase the range of motion.

Gait training and group therapy can also be part of the after-treatment as well as joint-gentle sports (gymnastics or aqua jogging). The patient also receives a training plan at home with exercises to be performed regularly. For a successful follow-up treatment it is important that doctors, therapists and patient work closely together and adhere to the prescribed measures.

Drugs

Painkillers are often the first choice of medication for knee arthrosis. The affected persons are severely restricted in their quality of life by the pain. The so-called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) have proven to be the most suitable painkillers.

These are substances that suppress the production of the body’s own pain and inflammatory substances, the so-called prostaglandins. Agents of choice from this group are for example ibuprofen, diclofenac or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). As an alternative to NSAIDs, there are the better tolerated COX-2 inhibitors that act specifically on a certain enzyme and thus cause fewer undesirable effects.

Active substances from this group are the coxibe (e.g. etoricoxib). If the above-mentioned painkillers do not lead to the desired success, stronger drugs such as opioid analgesics can be used. These include tilidine, tramadol, morphine or oxycodone. In addition to the painkillers, many of which also have an anti-inflammatory effect, the administration of cortisone may also be advisable to combat the joint inflammation. Homeopathics, ointments and creams, and anthroposophic medicines can also help to alleviate the symptoms.