Taking proper care and the appropriate steps both before and after your knee replacement surgery is critical for giving yourself the best possible outcome and a smooth recovery.
You’ve already made your way to find this article, so good job - you’re already taking the right steps and being a good patient. While the doctors and surgeons do their part in the operating room, it’s up to you, the patient, to do your part afterward. Your role consists of resting up, taking it easy on your knee, following the physical therapist guidelines, taking the proper pain medications, and beginning physical therapy. In addition to staying hydrated and maintaining healthy habits, you can further help yourself by creating optimal recovery areas throughout your home.
In light of temporary limited mobility, you’re going to be spending a lot of time sitting down — as you should. It’s no secret that prolonged sitting is less than ideal for our bodies, but there are a few things you can do to optimize and significantly improve your recovery environment. The simple, easy, and most significant change you can make is creating a supportive and comfortable seating area to help with knee flexion.
The Best Chair To Sit in After Knee Replacement Surgery
Considering there isn’t too much you can do after knee replacement surgery other than staying off of it to let it recover, having the best possible chair to sit in should be a top priority. You’ll likely be sitting down not only to rest and take naps but also to ice your knee, rest it in certain angles, and begin physical therapy exercises. With these few activities alone, the hours spent sitting down are already adding up, and the way you’re sitting is either encouraging or deterring your recovery.
The best sturdy chair to sit in after knee replacement surgery is a recliner. You’re going to need a chair that is high enough to comfortably sit down and get up from, and it should have sturdy arms and a solid backrest to ensure stability. Recliners are easy to get in and out of, they’re some of the most comfortable chairs out there, they allow for different seating positions, and they facilitate elevating your recovering knee. Recliners come in different dimensions that make it easy to find one that fits in your household for a small commission.
You don’t want to overlook the new challenge that will be getting in and out of a chair. Recliners have proved themselves to be a favorite because of their large size, respectively large armrests, retractable footrest, sturdy design and other useful mechanisms. For all recovery stages of using a wheelchair, cane, walker, crutches, and walking poles, a lift recliner provides the support and accessibility that makes those few weeks safe and easy for getting in and out of a seated position.
The different positions that a power lift recliner allows for makes it the perfect seat for multiple activities; crossword puzzles, reading on a tablet, using your laptop, napping, eating, and more. Later on in the recovery process, a recliner also provides a suitable position to begin some of your rehab exercises, such as ankle pumps.
The adjustable footrest of a recliner chair supports elevating your legs, specifically to promote blood circulation. Recliners that use a remote control or USB controller make it as easy as a push of a button to change how you are sittingat any given time.
Using a wedge cushion and even layering a few wedge cushions is an excellent way to raise your leg and bring your knee above your heart. With your knee above your heart, gravity now works in your favor to help return oxygen-depleted blood from your legs to your chest area and improve overall blood flow to help with swelling.
Using wedge cushions and other supportive pillows with your recliner chair can also ease the icing process, which you’ll be engaging in multiple times a day for a couple of weeks. It can be strenuous on the neck and back to try and ice your knee from a laying position, but seated in a recliner and with pillows propping up your knee, this tension is alleviated, and the task becomes much more enjoyable.
You’re probably catching on to just how important post-operative care is and how much of a difference it can make to your new knee. Now that seating is taken care of, let’s turn to how you can support your knee when lying down.
The Best Knee Pillow for After Knee Replacement Surgery
The best chair to sit in after a knee replacement surgery is a recliner, and while recliners are indeed comfortable for napping, they’re not the best option for overnight sleeping. Getting a good night’s rest is essential for all aspects of a stable recovery and well-being, and after your surgery, the way you sleep may look different for a couple of weeks, especially for bigger surgeries such as a total knee replacement surgery.
The best sleeping position after knee surgery will be on your back. This position keeps your legs as straight as possible to avoid hypertension while maintaining proper blood flow to the entire leg area. If sleeping straight on your back is too uncomfortable, you can try placing a small pillow or cushion underneath your calf and lower knee to alleviate any light pressure and keep your leg in a natural position. It is equally important to ensure the pillow is not underneath your foot or ankle, nor directly underneath your knee, as this will either create excess stress for the knee joint or prevent it from fully extending, both of which are likely to increase pain.
If you’re someone who has difficulty sleeping on your back and sleeping on your side is non-negotiable, do not sleep on your operative side. If you must sleep on your side, you must keep your operative knee facing the ceiling. To encourage spinal alignment, using a knee pillow between your legs can provide comfort and prevent pain before it has a chance to begin. Doctors already recommend sleeping with a pillow between your knees for a plethora of reasons, all of which are strengthened for someone recovering from knee replacement surgery.
The Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow is made with premium memory foam, or high-density foam, and uses space-age technology to provide the ultimate soft and supportive cushion with great fabric. Ergonomic contours in the doctor-recommended design ensure healthy spinal alignment, lower back relief, lumbar support, and comfort for your hips and legs, making it perfect after a hip surgery . With your operative side is facing the ceiling and the best available pillow between your legs, you’re set up for a comfortable, peaceful, and restorative night’s sleep. There cusions can hold differing amounts of lbs and make it perfect to relax with proper knee flexion.
Sources:
Why Maintaining a Healthy Weight is Important for Your Artificial Knee
Ankle Pump Exercises After Knee Replacement Surgery (Benefits)
Trouble Sleeping After a Joint Replacement? Here's What to Do
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