Physiotherapy for Knee Replacement: Home Recovery Guide (Week-by-Week)

Why the first 6 weeks decide your knee replacement outcome

After a total knee replacement (TKR), the difference between a knee that bends 120° and one stuck at 90° is almost entirely decided in the first 6 weeks. Most patients we see in Kharar and Mohali who ended up with a stiff knee simply stopped exercising once the pain eased — that's the single biggest mistake.

Home physiotherapy fixes this because the therapist comes to you daily or on alternate days, keeps you accountable, and adjusts exercises to your actual home — your bed height, your stairs, your bathroom.

Week 1 — Swelling control and gentle bending

Focus: reduce swelling, protect the wound, and start knee bending to 60–70°. We do ice + elevation cycles, ankle pumps every hour, quadriceps sets (tightening the thigh for 5 seconds × 10 reps), and short-arc knee extensions.

Walking with a walker is started on day 1 or 2 — short distances inside the house, 4–5 times a day.

Week 2 — Bending to 90° and safer walking

By end of week 2, the target is 90° of knee bend and standing for 5+ minutes. Heel slides, wall slides, and assisted knee bending on the edge of the bed are added. Stitches or clips usually come off around day 12–14.

Weeks 3–4 — Building strength, ditching the walker

Straight-leg raises, mini-squats holding a chair, step-ups on a low step, and stationary cycling (if available). Most patients transition from walker to a single stick during this phase — but only when the physiotherapist clears it.

Weeks 5–6 — Full bend, stair climbing, walking longer

Target: 110–120° of bend, walking 15–20 minutes indoors, going up/down stairs one step at a time. Balance exercises are added — single-leg stand near a wall, heel-to-toe walking.

Managing pain at home — what actually works

Ice for 15 minutes after every exercise session. Elevate the leg above heart level for 20 minutes, 3–4 times a day for the first 3 weeks. Take painkillers before physio, not after — this lets you push through the stiffness that limits bending.

Never skip a session because of pain — skipping is what causes long-term stiffness. Instead, tell the physiotherapist and they'll modify the intensity.

Red flags — call your surgeon immediately

Sudden calf pain or swelling (possible DVT), fever above 100°F, wound redness or discharge, or a sudden loss of the bending you had gained. These are not physio problems — they need the surgeon.

Booking home physiotherapy after knee replacement in Kharar or Mohali

We start visits from day 2 or 3 after discharge from Fortis, Max, Ivy, Grecian, Cheema, or any Tricity hospital. A typical package is 15–20 sessions across 6 weeks, and we coordinate with your surgeon on bending milestones. Call us to schedule an assessment — the first visit is free.