Menu

en_GB EN
en_GB EN nl_NL NL

Physiotherapy after knee replacement

At Physio Fitaal, we are experts in the rehabilitation of people with knee replacements. We combine scientific knowledge with years of practical experience to provide you with the best and most personalised care. We understand that every situation is unique and are committed to making your rehabilitation as smooth as possible. This rehabilitation is tailored to your personal needs and preferences. Our goal is to help you get back to your old self, so that you can enjoy life to the full even with a new knee.
Making an appointment

When to get a new knee?

When various treatments no longer produce the desired results, a total knee replacement may offer a solution. In this operation, the joint is usually completely replaced with a prosthesis. We often see that both muscle strength and joint mobility are reduced due to long-term osteoarthritis. Therefore, it is crucial to start rehabilitation soon after surgery to restore these functions as soon as possible.

At Fysio Fitaal, our therapists will guide you intensively in strengthening the muscles around your knee and regaining mobility. We also help you perform your daily activities as optimally as possible. Most people are able to walk again without crutches after about six weeks, after which the pain gradually subsides. As your condition improves, walking will also become increasingly easier. The average length of rehabilitation for a new knee or hip is between six and nine months.

The goals of a knee replacement are clear:

  • Reducing pain
  • Improving quality of life
  • Increasing mobility in the knee
  • Regaining a normal walking pattern

How long does a new knee last?

With a new knee, you will regain more freedom of movement and symptoms will decrease. Normally, you will do with an artificial knee for at least 15 years. How long it will last depends on several factors: general physical condition, body weight and activity level. If you put too much strain on the artificial knee, the prosthesis may not last as long. The prosthesis is designed to mimic the function of the original knee joint as closely as possible. However, the material will always be subject to wear and tear. In general, prostheses already last a lot longer than they did a few years ago.

Physiotherapy at home after surgery

If circumstances prevent you from coming to our practice, Fysio Fitaal in Tilburg also offers physiotherapy at home. This ensures that you can quickly start your rehabilitation in the comfort of your own home. During the first session, we perform a comprehensive intake and assessment, after which we draw up a personal treatment plan tailored to your specific situation and recovery goals. We organise regular sessions to monitor your progress and adjust treatments where necessary. This provides a safe and effective way to work on your recovery, so that you are soon back on your feet, despite the challenges you face. When you are more mobile again, we will welcome you at one of our locations in Tilburg.

The operation

There is usually a choice between general anaesthesia and regional anaesthesia by means of an epidural. On average, the operation takes 2 hours. In the vast majority of cases, a total prosthesis is chosen. This means that the entire knee will be replaced. In some cases, a partial knee replacement also offers a solution. Then only the inner or outer side of the knee is worn out. During surgery, an incision is made at the front of the knee. The orthopaedist removes the original ends of the lower leg and upper leg. These ends are replaced with metal parts. Between these is a disc of plastic that ensures smooth movement between the parts of the prosthesis. Osteoarthritis can cause a misalignment of the lower leg in relation to the upper leg. This misalignment can be corrected during surgery on the knee. This is called an osteotomy. The pressure on the knee joint is redistributed better after this correction.

Reimbursement after surgery

After surgery for a knee replacement, physiotherapy reimbursement falls under specific rules that depend on your health insurance. It is important to fully understand how these reimbursements are regulated so that you can make the best use of available care without incurring unexpected costs.

  1. Chronic Indication: After knee replacement surgery, you will receive a chronic indication for physiotherapy. This indication is valid for one year from the start of therapy.

  2. First 20 Treatments: The first 20 post-surgery physiotherapy treatments are usually covered by the supplementary insurance, if you are insured for this. This means that reimbursement depends on the conditions of your supplementary policy. It is important to check with your insurer how many treatments are covered under your supplementary insurance.

  3. From the 21st Treatment: From the 21st treatment, physiotherapy is reimbursed from the basic insurance. This is regulated because treatment from this point is considered necessary care for recovery after surgery, which falls under chronic indications.

  4. Own Risk: Keep in mind that costs reimbursed from the basic insurance count towards your deductible. Since medical procedures such as a knee replacement are often combined with other hospital costs, chances are you have already used up the deductible.

It is always a good idea to contact your health insurer prior to the start of your treatment to know exactly what you will be reimbursed and to avoid surprises. This way, you can fully focus on your recovery and rehabilitation.

Advice for immediately after surgery

  • Keep moving. See if you can already manage to take a short walk with the crutches every hour for 3-10 minutes.
  • Put the leg up high to allow the swelling to go down.
  • Do not sit with the leg down for too long. This can cause a lot of pressure in the knee.
  • Practice bending stretching the knee a lot. Getting to the 90-degree flexion quickly is necessary for further therapy on an exercise bike, for example.
  • You may just take support on the leg with the help of your crutches. Do not be afraid to strain. Unless otherwise directed by the hospital.
  • The knee may be reactive for an extended period of time. This means that a reaction to loading is normal. An example is increased swelling because you did a bit more in the morning. Get well again!
  • For the first 6 weeks, it is not usual to drive a car. The wound is still recovering and may reopen with a quick unexpected movement. Also, it is not convenient insurance-wise should you cause damage to yourself or others.
  • In case of fever, redness of the knee or irritation of the wound call the hospital to be sure.
  • Redness and shiny calf along with cramping can be a sign of thrombosis. Keep a close eye on this.
  • With the dentist, always indicate that you have a joint prosthesis. This is because of the increased risk of infection.

The first phase

In the first 6 weeks, the prosthesis should start to grow in. High-speed movements should be avoided. The scar may remain somewhat sensitive for the next few weeks to months. A blue discolouration of the leg, swelling and pain may be present. Pain relief is therefore recommended. Because you move less along with the side effects of surgery, you will be given medication to prevent thrombosis.

The next steps
Successful rehabilitation consists of several stages and steps. Good strength, stability and control of the knee are necessary to safely perform your daily activities again. During rehabilitation, you will visit the physiotherapist on average 2-3 times a week. The first phase of rehabilitation will focus on restoring the knee's mobility and walking pattern. After that, the focus will be on the strength of the muscles around the knee. How long the rehabilitation will take often depends on several factors and therefore cannot be said well in advance. However, guidelines are available on the goals to be achieved:

  • Within 4 weeks with 1 crutch
  • Within six weeks without crutches
  • Driving again after 6 weeks
  • Cycling outside again after 4 months

Physio Vital x Vief Living

With Vief Life we want to provide people with symptoms of osteoarthritis with strength and knowledge to regain control of their own health and freedom in life.

We focus entirely on the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis in Tilburg along with rehabilitation after knee or hip replacement surgery. Vive life believes in a better approach in Physiotherapy treatment of osteoarthritis-related complaints. With our unique method, we aim to provide people with strength and knowledge to regain control of your situation this way.

View here vief life's website.

On average, rehabilitation from a knee replacement takes 6-9 months. During rehabilitation, small and sometimes big setbacks will always come your way. Especially in certain phases, it will be slower than you thought beforehand. Patience is necessary. Our specialists will guide and motivate you as much as possible during this process. Fysio Fitaal works with specialists in the field of rehabilitation after surgery and osteoarthritis-related complaints. This combination of expertise, extensive facilities and passion for physiotherapy puts you in the right place.

Frequently asked questions

Making an appointment at FysioFitaal

Fysio Fitaal offers specialised physiotherapy with a personalised approach. Whether you are recovering from an injury, have sports-related complaints or are working on your health preventively, our team of experts is there for you. With years of experience in sports rehabilitation, ultrasound diagnostics and post-operative care, we help you move forward effectively.

We work from multiple locations in Tilburg, always close by for professional and accessible physiotherapy. Fill in the contact form and we will contact you soon. Together, we will work on your recovery!
Shoulder Physiotherapy
Filters
Body part
Body part
Apply filters