Physiotherapy After Knee Replacement at Home
Knee replacement is one of the most common orthopaedic procedures in Australia. Your rehabilitation in the weeks after surgery is critical to achieving a good outcome.
Why Physiotherapy Matters After Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement surgery replaces the damaged surfaces of your knee joint with artificial components. The surgery itself addresses the structural problem, but the rehabilitation that follows determines how well you regain function, strength, and range of motion in your new knee.
After knee replacement, you will experience swelling, stiffness, and weakness in the operated leg. The muscles around the knee - particularly the quadriceps at the front of the thigh - lose significant strength after surgery. Without targeted rehabilitation, these muscles may remain weak, leading to ongoing difficulty with walking, stairs, and getting in and out of chairs.
Regaining knee range of motion is also a primary focus. Your surgeon and physiotherapist will have specific goals for how much your knee should bend and straighten at each stage of recovery. Achieving adequate range of motion early is important because the knee can stiffen if rehabilitation is delayed or insufficient.
Most people are discharged from hospital within 1 to 3 days after knee replacement. This means the vast majority of your rehabilitation takes place at home, making mobile physiotherapy a practical and effective option for older Australians recovering from this surgery.
Recovery Timeline: What to Expect
Recovery after knee replacement is a gradual process. The following timeline provides general guidance, though individual recovery varies depending on your age, overall health, pre-surgery fitness, and adherence to your exercise program.
Weeks 1-2: Early Recovery
Swelling and pain are at their peak during this period. You will be using a walking frame or crutches. The priority is managing swelling with ice and elevation, starting gentle range of motion exercises, activating the quadriceps muscle, and practising safe walking with your aid.
Physiotherapy should ideally begin within the first week of returning home. Early sessions focus on swelling management, gentle knee bending and straightening, and safe mobility around the house.
Weeks 2-6: Building Range and Strength
Swelling gradually reduces. The focus shifts to increasing knee bend range of motion - your surgeon will typically want you to achieve around 90 degrees of knee bend by the 6-week mark, though targets vary. Strengthening exercises become more challenging as pain allows.
During this phase, many people progress from a walking frame to crutches or a walking stick. Physiotherapy sessions focus on progressive strengthening, range of motion work, gait retraining, and beginning to tackle stairs if relevant to your home.
Weeks 6-12: Returning to Function
Most people can walk without an aid by this stage, though this varies. The 6-week surgical review is typically when your surgeon assesses your progress and clears you for more demanding activities. Exercises progress to higher-level strengthening, endurance, and functional activities.
Physiotherapy may continue beyond 12 weeks if range of motion or strength goals have not been met, or if you have specific activity goals such as returning to golf, gardening, or other hobbies.
3-12 Months: Ongoing Improvement
While the most intensive rehabilitation occurs in the first 12 weeks, the knee continues to improve for up to 12 months after surgery. Swelling may come and go for several months. Continued home exercises are important throughout this period even after formal physiotherapy sessions have ended.
Common Exercises After Knee Replacement
Your physiotherapist will prescribe exercises tailored to your stage of recovery. The following are examples of exercises commonly included in knee replacement rehabilitation programs. These should only be performed under guidance from your treating physiotherapist.
Quad Sets (Static Quadriceps)
Lying on your back with your leg straight, tighten the muscle on the front of your thigh by pushing the back of your knee down into the bed. Hold for 5 seconds, then relax. This is often the first exercise prescribed after surgery because the quadriceps muscle is essential for walking, standing, and stair climbing. Aim for 10 repetitions, several times per day.
Heel Slides
Lying on your back, slowly slide your heel toward your buttocks by bending your knee, then slide it back out to straighten. This exercise works on regaining knee bend range of motion. Go to your comfortable limit and try to gain a small amount of extra range each day. You can use a towel under your heel to reduce friction.
Straight Leg Raises
Lying on your back, tighten your quadriceps and lift your straight leg approximately 30 centimetres off the bed. Hold for 3 to 5 seconds, then slowly lower. This strengthens the quadriceps while the knee remains straight, which is useful in the early stages when bending under load is uncomfortable.
Knee Extension (Seated)
Sitting on a firm chair, slowly straighten your knee as far as possible, hold for a few seconds, then slowly lower. This targets the quadriceps through range and is typically introduced once initial swelling has settled. A small ankle weight may be added as you progress.
Sit-to-Stand
From a firm, raised chair, practise standing up without using your hands if possible, then slowly sitting back down. This is a functional exercise that builds the leg strength needed for everyday tasks. Your physiotherapist may start with a higher chair and progress to a standard-height chair as your strength improves.
Recovery Milestones to Aim For
While every recovery is different, the following milestones give you a general idea of what to work toward. Your physiotherapist and surgeon will set specific targets based on your situation.
By 2 Weeks
Walking safely with a walking aid around the house. Able to get in and out of bed independently. Able to straighten the knee to near full extension. Starting to achieve around 70 to 80 degrees of knee bend.
By 6 Weeks
Around 90 degrees or more of knee bend. Walking with reduced reliance on aids - many people progress to a single stick or no aid. Swelling noticeably reduced from the early days. Able to manage stairs with a rail.
By 12 Weeks
Walking independently without an aid. Improved confidence with stairs and uneven ground. Returning to light activities such as short walks, gardening, and household tasks. Knee range of motion approaching your final result.
Important: These are general guides only. Some people recover faster, others need more time. Factors such as your age, weight, overall fitness before surgery, other health conditions, and how consistently you do your exercises all affect the pace of recovery. Avoid comparing your progress to others.
Why Mobile Physiotherapy Works Well After Knee Surgery
Getting to a clinic in the first weeks after knee replacement is often impractical. You cannot drive for several weeks, and sitting in a car as a passenger can be uncomfortable when your knee is swollen and stiff. Waiting rooms, car parks, and clinic stairs add unnecessary difficulty to what is already a challenging recovery period.
Mobile physiotherapy removes these barriers. Your physiotherapist visits you at home, which means treatment can start within days of your discharge. They assess how you manage in your actual living environment - navigating your hallway, getting in and out of your own bed, managing your bathroom, and tackling your specific stairs.
This real-world context is valuable. Exercises are tailored not just to your knee, but to the physical demands of your home and your daily routine. If you need to manage three steps to your front door, your physiotherapist can practise that with you. If your bed is a particular height, exercises and transfers are practised with that bed.
For more about our post-surgery rehabilitation approach, visit the post-surgery rehabilitation service page. For funding options including DVA, Support at Home, and Medicare, see our funding and payment options page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after knee replacement can physiotherapy start at home?
Mobile physiotherapy can typically begin within the first week of returning home from hospital. Early sessions focus on swelling management, gentle range of motion exercises, quadriceps activation, and safe walking practice with your walking aid.
How much should my knee bend after replacement?
Most surgeons aim for at least 90 degrees of knee bend by 6 weeks and 110 to 120 degrees by 12 weeks. However, targets vary between individuals and surgeons. Your physiotherapist will work with your surgeon's specific guidelines and monitor your progress at each session.
How long does rehabilitation take after knee replacement?
The most intensive rehabilitation occurs during the first 6 to 12 weeks. Most people continue home exercises for 3 to 6 months. The knee can continue to improve for up to 12 months after surgery. Your physiotherapist will advise on when formal sessions can reduce in frequency.
Content reviewed by Jovi Villanueva, AHPRA Registered Physiotherapist (PHY0001876394), Principal Physiotherapist at Wellworx Physio.
Last updated: April 2026
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