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Climbing Stairs after Knee Replacement

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Posted 9/23/2009 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all,

My mom is 70years old and due for both her Knee Replacements. The doctors have adviced surgery on both knees with about 6 days apart.

She will have help in her home during recovery period for couple of months. After about 3 or 4 months of surgery, i want my parents to come and live with us for few months. Problem is that we dont have any bedroom downstairs. Does anyone know if climbin stairs is a problem for patients who have knee replacement done? I was told that patients are generally adviced to refrain from any activity (including climbing stairs) that will require them to bend the knee... and this is not just during recovery period.. but on long term basis. Thanks in advance for your responses.

Posted 9/23/2009 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
I had knee replacement in May. I have 4 steps into my house, with hand rails on both sides. I went up those stairs the day I came home from the hospital. For about two months, I went up and down stairs putting both feet on each step (just as I had been doing before the surgery due to pain.) Since then, I go up and down normally.

I have never heard of anyone being told not to bend their knees. In fact, the day after surgery I started therapy, including two sessions each day with continuous passive range of motion, bending and straightening my knee by a machine for 2 hours. At first it only bent it a little, but it increased each day. The cautions I received involved activities that would require a lot of twisting of the knee, such as skiing or basketball.

I'm 62, so not that much younger than your mom. Hopefully she will be able to go up and down stairs as well as doing everything else she did before her knees got bad. I work out three or four times a week, including weight work for my legs.
Posted 9/23/2009 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
thankyou, that was very encouraging information. i will pass it on to my mom. regards,
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