Rehabilitation Protocol:

Total Knee Arthroplasty

(TKA)

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington 781-744-8650
Lahey Outpatient Center, Lexington 781-372-7020
Lahey Medical Center, Peabody 978-538-4267

Department of Rehabilitation Services

Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington 781-744-8645
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Wall Street, Burlington 781-744-8617
Lahey Danvers 978-739-7400
Lahey Outpatient Center, Lexington 781-372-7060
 ◄ Overview

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an elective operative procedure to treat an

arthritic knee. This procedure replaces your damaged knee joint with an artificial
knee implant. Knee implants consist of (1) a metal piece attached to the end of
your thigh bone, (2) a metal and plastic or all-plastic piece attached to the top of
your lower leg bone and (3) a plastic piece attached to your kneecap. Once in
place, the artificial components function like your natural knee.

The surgical approach to knee replacement surgery requires that appropriate

healing is allowed to take place. There are certain milestones during rehabilitation
that require that the patient be an active participant in rehabilitation to help ensure
the best outcome. The goals of this surgery are to decrease pain, maximize function
of ADLs, reduce functional impairments and maximize quality of life.

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TKA, Approved by L. Specht, MD, J.Agrillo, PT, S. Barrera, OT, M. Dynan, PT Approved 3_13_14 Review Date 3_16
◄ Phase I Protective Phase
0−1 Week, Hospital Stay
Goals
 Allow soft tissue healing
 Reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling
 Increase motor control and strength
 Increase independence with bed mobility, transfers, and gait
 Educate patient regarding weight bearing
 Patient to work toward full passive knee extension at 0 º and work toward increasing flexion ROM to
90 º

Precautions
 Patients are generally WBAT with assistive device for primary TKA, unless otherwise indicated by
MD
 Keep incision clean and dry
 No showering until staples out and MD approves
 Coordinate treatment times with pain medication
 While in bed, patient to be positioned with towel roll at ankle to prevent heel ulcers and promote knee
extension
 Observe for signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT): increased swelling, erythema, calf pain. If present,
notify MD immediately

Post-op Days (POD) 1–4

 PT evaluation and initiation of ROM on POD#0

 Patient to be seen by PT 2x/day, thereafter
 Cold pack or ice pack to manage pain, inflammation, and swelling
 Patient education for positioning and joint protection strategies
 Therapeutic exercises in supine: passive and active assist heel slides, ankle pumps,
quadriceps and gluteal sets, short arc quadriceps (SAQ)
 Therapeutic exercises in sitting: Passive/Active Assist/Active knee extension/flexion
 Bed mobility and transfer training
 Gait training on flat surfaces and on stairs with appropriate assistive device per
discharge plan
 Physical therapist to coordinate patient receiving appropriate assistive device for
home discharge.
 OT evaluation- seen on consultant basis. Patients being discharged home prioritized. Orders
obtained during daily rounds or page MD for orders as needed.

3
TKA, Approved by L. Specht, MD, J.Agrillo, PT, S. Barrera, OT, M. Dynan, PT Approved 3_13_14 Review Date 3_16
◄ Phase II – Transitional Phase (Guided by home or rehab therapist)
Weeks 1-3

Goals
 Allow healing/follow precautions
 Reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling
 Increase range of motion (ROM): work toward achieving full knee extension at 0º and flexion
ROM between 90-120º
 Increase strength
 Increase independence with bed mobility, transfers, and gait
 Gait training – Appropriate use of assistive device to emphasize normal gait pattern and limit
post-operative inflammation

Precautions
 Monitor wound healing for signs and symptoms of infection. If present, notify MD

Therapeutic Exercise (To be performed 3x/day after instruction by therapist)

 Passive/Active Assisted/Active range of motion (P/AA/AROM) exercises in supine:
ankle pumps, heel slides.
 P/ AA/AROM exercises in sitting: long arc quads, ankle pumps. Including therapist
assist for increasing ROM into flexion and full extension.
 Strengthening: Quadriceps setting in full knee extension, gluteal setting, short arc
quadriceps (SAQ), hooklying ball/towel squeeze, bridging.
 Bed mobility and transfer training

Gait Training
 Continue training with assistive device. Wean from walker to crutches to cane only
when patient can make transition without onset of gait deviation.
 Encourage all normal phases of gait pattern using appropriate device.

Modalities
 Cold pack or ice pack for 10-15 minutes 3x/day to manage pain, inflammation, and
swelling

Criteria for progression to next phase:

 Minimal pain and inflammation
 Pt ambulates with assistive device without pain or deviation
 Independent with current daily home exercise regimen
 Progression to driving: must be off all narcotic analgesics in order to concentrate on
driving tasks. Discuss specifics with surgeon

4
TKA, Approved by L. Specht, MD, J.Agrillo, PT, S. Barrera, OT, M. Dynan, PT Approved 3_13_14 Review Date 3_16
◄ Phase III – Outpatient Early Phase (Weeks 3-6, guided by outpatient
physical therapist)

Goals
 Reduce pain and inflammation
 Increase range of motion (ROM) gradually progressing toward 0-120º
 Increase strength with emphasis on hip abductor/extensor and quad/hamstring musculature
 Balance and proprioceptive training to assist with functional activities
 Gait training: Wean off assistive device when patient can ambulate without deviation
 Functional activity training to enhance patient autonomy with ADLs/mobility

Precautions
 Continue to monitor wound healing for signs and symptoms of infection

Therapeutic Exercise progression of exercise from Phase II (To be guided by outpatient physical
therapist)
 Stationary Bike
 4-way straight leg raise (SLR)
 Closed chain weight shifting activities including side-stepping
 Balance exercises: single leg stance, alter surface, eyes open/closed
 Leg press; wall slides
 Lateral step up and step down with eccentric control
 Front step up and step down

Functional Activities
 Sit to stand activities
 Lifting and carrying
 Ascending/descending stairs
 Gait Training

Modalities
 Cold pack or ice pack for 10-15 minutes 1-3x/day to manage pain and swelling
 Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) for quadriceps re-education as necessary

Criteria for progression to next phase:

 Minimal pain and inflammation
 Pt ambulates without assistive device without pain or deviation
 Good voluntary quad control

5
TKA, Approved by L. Specht, MD, J.Agrillo, PT, S. Barrera, OT, M. Dynan, PT Approved 3_13_14 Review Date 3_16
◄ Phase IV – Outpatient Intermediate Phase (Weeks 6-12, guided by
outpatient physical therapist)

Goals
 Increase overall strength throughout lower extremities
 Return to all functional activities
 Begin light recreational activities

Therapeutic Exercise
 Progress Phase III exercises by increasing resistance and repetitions
 Front lunge and squat activities
 Progress balance and proprioception activities (STAR and ball toss, perturbations)
 Initiate overall exercise and endurance training (walking, swimming, progress biking)

Criteria for discharge

 No pain with functional activities of daily living
 Good lower extremity strength of >= 4/5 throughout
 Patient is independent with reciprocal stair climbing
 Patient consistently adheres to plan of care and home exercise program

◄ Phase V – Return to High Level Activity (3+ months)

Activities
 Continue walking, swimming and biking programs for aerobic
conditioning/endurance
 Begin playing golf and outdoor cycling
 Obtain clearance from surgeon for return to impact sports such and tennis or jogging

6
TKA, Approved by L. Specht, MD, J.Agrillo, PT, S. Barrera, OT, M. Dynan, PT Approved 3_13_14 Review Date 3_16
Rehabilitation Protocol for Total Knee Arthroplasty
Post –op Phase/Goals Interventions/Activities Precautions
Phase I  PT evaluation and initiation of ROM on POD#0 Patients are generally WBAT
Protective Phase  Patient to be seen by PT 2x/day, thereafter with assistive device for
0- 1 Week  Cold pack or ice pack to manage pain, inflammation, and swelling primary TKA, unless otherwise
indicated by MD
Hospital Stay  Patient education for positioning and joint protection strategies
Allow soft tissue healing  Therapeutic exercises in supine: passive and active assist heel slides, ankle Keep incision clean and dry
Reduce pain, inflammation, pumps, quadriceps and gluteal sets, short arc quadriceps (SAQ)
and swelling No showering until staples out
 Therapeutic exercises in sitting: Passive/Active Assist/Active knee
Increase motor control and and MD approves
strength extension/flexion
Increase independence with  Bed mobility and transfer training Coordinate treatment times
bed mobility, transfers, and  Gait training on flat surfaces and on stairs with appropriate assistive device with pain medication
gait per discharge plan
Educate patient regarding  Physical therapist to coordinate patient receiving appropriate assistive While in bed, patient to be
weight bearing device for home discharge. positioned with towel roll at
ankle to prevent heel ulcers and
Patient to work toward full  OT evaluation- seen on consultant basis. Patients being discharged home
passive knee extension at 0 º promote knee extension
prioritized. Orders obtained during daily rounds or page MD for orders as needed.
and work toward increasing
Observe for signs of deep vein
flexion ROM to 90º
thrombosis (DVT): increased
swelling, erythema, calf pain.
If present, notify MD
immediately

7
TKA, Approved by L. Specht, MD, J.Agrillo, PT, S. Barrera, OT, M. Dynan, PT Approved 3_13_14 Review Date 3_16
Post –op Phase/Goals Interventions/Activities Precautions
Phase II – Transitional (To be performed 3x/day after instruction by therapist) Monitor wound healing for
Phase (Guided by home or signs and symptoms of
rehab therapist)  Passive/Active Assisted/Active range of motion (P/AA/AROM) exercises in infection. If present, notify
Weeks 1 - 3 supine: ankle pumps, heel slides. MD
Allow healing/follow  P/ AA/AROM exercises in sitting: long arc quads, ankle pumps. Including
precautions therapist assist for increasing ROM into flexion and full extension.
Reduce pain, inflammation,  Strengthening: Quadriceps setting in full knee extension, gluteal setting,
and swelling short arc quadriceps (SAQ), hooklying ball/towel squeeze, bridging.
Increase range of motion  Bed mobility and transfer training
(ROM): work toward
achieving full knee Gait Training
extension at 0º and flexion  Continue training with assistive device.
ROM between 90-120º  Wean from walker to crutches to cane only when patient can make
Increase strength transition without onset of gait deviation.
Increase independence with
 Encourage all normal phases of gait pattern using appropriate device.
bed mobility, transfers, and
gait
Modalities
Gait training – Appropriate
 Cold pack or ice pack for 10-15 minutes 3x/day to manage pain,
use of assistive device to
inflammation, and swelling
emphasize normal gait
pattern and limit post-
Criteria for progression to next phase:
operative inflammation
 Minimal pain and inflammation
 Pt ambulates with assistive device without pain or deviation
 Independent with current daily home exercise regimen
 Progression to driving: must be off all narcotic analgesics in order to
concentrate on driving tasks. Discuss specifics with surgeon

8
TKA, Approved by L. Specht, MD, J.Agrillo, PT, S. Barrera, OT, M. Dynan, PT Approved 3_13_14 Review Date 3_16
 Post –op Phase/Goals Interventions/Activities Precautions
Phase III – Outpatient Therapeutic Exercise progression of exercise from Phase II (To be guided by Continue to monitor wound
Early Phase (Weeks 3-6, outpatient physical therapist) healing for signs and
guided by outpatient  Stationary bike symptoms of infection
physical therapist)  Four way straight leg raise
 Reduce pain and  Closed chain weight shifting activities including side-stepping
inflammation  Balance exercises: single leg stance, alter surface, eyes open/closed
 Increase range of motion  Leg press; wall slides
(ROM) gradually  Lateral step up and step down with eccentric control
progressing toward 0-  Front step up and step down
120º
 Increase strength with Functional Activities
emphasis on hip  Sit to stand activities
abductor/extensor and  Lifting and carrying
quad/hamstring
 Ascending/descending stairs
musculature
 Gait Training
 Balance and
proprioceptive training
Modalities
to assist with functional
 Cold pack or ice pack for 10-15 minutes 1-3x/day to manage pain and
activities
swelling
 Gait training: Wean off
 Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) for quadriceps re-
assistive device when
education as necessary
patient can ambulate
without deviation
 Functional activity training Criteria for progression to next phase:
to enhance patient autonomy  Minimal pain and inflammation
with ADLs/mobility  Pt ambulates without assistive device without pain or deviation
 Good voluntary quad control

9
TKA, Approved by L. Specht, MD, J.Agrillo, PT, S. Barrera, OT, M. Dynan, PT Approved 3_13_14 Review Date 3_16
Post –op Phase/Goals Interventions/Activities
Phase IV – Outpatient
Intermediate Phase (Weeks 6-12,
guided by outpatient physical
therapist)
 Increase overall strength Therapeutic Exercise
throughout lower extremities Progress Phase III exercises by increasing resistance and repetitions
 Return to all functional activities Front lunge and squat activities
 Begin light recreational activities Progress balance and proprioception activities (STAR and ball toss, perturbations)
Initiate overall exercise and endurance training (walking, swimming, progress biking)

Criteria for discharge

No pain with functional activities of daily living
Good lower extremity strength of >= 4/5 throughout
Patient is independent with reciprocal stair climbing
Patient consistently adheres to plan of care and home exercise program

Phase V – Return to High Level Continue walking, swimming and biking programs for aerobic conditioning/endurance
Activity (3+ months) Begin playing golf and outdoor cycling
Obtain clearance from surgeon for return to impact sports such and tennis or jogging

10
TKA, Approved by L. Specht, MD, J.Agrillo, PT, S. Barrera, OT, M. Dynan, PT Approved 3_13_14 Review Date 3_16