@yourrecoveryphysio: Knee still won't bend after your knee replacement? Heel slides are how you start getting it back. What's going on. Swelling and stiffness make the knee resist bending in the first weeks. Bend comes back fastest early on: in a study of 498 patients, the middle half were at 70 to 90 degrees just after surgery and 95 to 115 degrees by one month. Moving it little and often is what keeps that progress coming. How to do it. Lie flat on your back. Slide your heel along the bed towards your bottom, bending the knee as far as is comfortable. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Then slide it back and straighten the knee fully. 15 times, 3 times a day. Tips: • A plastic bag or a tea towel under your heel helps it slide • Go to a firm stretch, not sharp pain • Always finish by straightening fully, so you work both directions Too hard? Wrap a long towel or a leg lifter under your foot and use it to help drag your heel back. Pull it back towards your hip, not up towards your face. Pulling along the line of the bed gives a better line of pull and more bend at the knee. What you'll feel. A firm stretch across the front of the knee is normal. It should settle within a minute or two of stopping. Sharp pain means stop and check with your physio. Your own surgeon or physio's plan comes first. What week are you, and how far does your knee bend now? Save this for tomorrow. Free to join: search "Your Recovery Physio" on Skool. The full exercise sheet is free in the group. Sources: Kittelson 2020, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders #kneereplacement #totalkneereplacement #dayone #tkr #kneereplacementrecovery

Joanne · Physiotherapist

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Region: AU

Friday 23 October 2026 12:00:00 GMT