Is it Safe to Squat After Knee Replacement Surgery?

Is My Knee Shot?

If you are about to have knee replacement surgery or have just had knee replacement surgery, you might be wondering if it’s okay and even safe to squat. This article, in addition to the video above, will talk about what squatting is, if they are safe to do after knee replacement surgeries, and how to get the most out of your recovery process.

What is Squatting?

Squatting is a movement that we do multiple times throughout the day, many people never realizing it. Any time you sit down on a chair, and stand back up, you are doing a squat. Squatting, when broken down simply, is when you bend your knees and hips at the same time, to lower your body closer to the ground. Of course, you will push yourself back up. Squatting is a crucial movement that is necessary for a high quality life. But even if this is the case, is it safe?

Is It Safe?

Squatting after knee replacement surgeries is safe.. BUT, there is some things to consider. When you are finishing a knee replacement surgery, you will likely be given a large amount of restrictions on what you can physically do. These should be followed strictly by your doctor, to ensure proper recovery. Once this is considered, you will typically be doing some type of modified squat during physical therapy already. This can look a lot of different ways, some of which will discuss in the next section, and demonstrate in the linked video above. You might be thinking, why would you want to practice squatting after the surgery? As we mentioned, not only is the movement helpful for activities of daily living, but it also helps to strengthen the muscles at and around the knee joint. This is a surefire way to improve the stability of the joint and help with recovery. With that said, trying to do full bodyweight squats would not be advised. Let’s take a look at a few squat modifications that could be used.

Squat Modifications After Knee Replacement Surgery

For full descriptions on what each of these exercise look like, I would recommend viewing the video above to see proper technique.

Finding a variation that feels good for you, and allows you to move the knee without pain is key.

Wall Sit
Wall Squat
Bodyweight Squat Holds
Assisted Mini Squats
Slantboard Squats

One Last Thing

If you want to continue to get stronger after your knee replacement, you need to subscribe to our channel. We help individuals of all abilities navigate the gym and become healthier in life. And if you don’t want to do that, I think you would enjoy this other article I picked out just for you.

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