There are many things you can do to plan ahead for joint replacement surgery, which can help ensure a more successful outcome. One of the things many people can benefit from is exercising before surgery. You will want to focus on strengthening your entire body, not just your knee or hip. Strengthening your upper body can be beneficial as you will be relying on your arms to get in and out of bed, in and out of a chair and walk.
To work your upper body, try this chair exercise:
Wall pushups are a great upper body exercise for those that may have back issues:
If you are undergoing a hip or knee replacement one of the best things you can do is strengthen your quadriceps muscle. A straight leg raise is a great way to work the quadriceps:
Often patients who need their hip replaced are stiff. A light stretching program that focuses on stretching your hip flexors can be beneficial:
Additionally, you may want to ask your doctor or physical therapist for a list of exercises you will be performing after surgery. Becoming familiar with them prior to your surgery will help you be better prepared.
Your doctor or physical therapist may give you specific instructions prior to your surgery. If you are prescribed a set of exercises or instructions, continue with those.
Stop any exercise that increases your pain. Remember to always check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program.
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