The ward physiotherapist will visit you after your operation to teach you the following exercises. It is very important to start moving and strengthen your muscles after surgery. This will aid your recovery. Try to do your exercises a minimum of three times each day, on theward and at home. Please do not attempt any of these exercises until you have been advised to do so.
Sitting with your leg outstretched, keep your knee straight and pull your foot and uptowards you.
To stretch the calf, wrap a dressing gown cord or theraband (if you have one) around thebottom of your foot and hold both ends of the cord in your hands.
Keeping your kneestraight, gently pull the toes towards your shin using the cord. Hold for 30 slow counts.
Repeat 5 times.
Lie on your back in a sitting position with your legs out straight. Bring your ankle uptowards you and push your knee down into the bed as much as you can by tighteningyour thigh muscles.Hold for 10 slow counts.
Repeat 3 sets.
Lie on your back. Squeeze your buttocks firmly together.Hold for 10 slow counts.
Repeat x3 sets.
Place a rolled-up towel under your knee. Lift your heel and straighten your knee.Hold for 10 slow counts.
Repeat 3 sets.
Lying option:
Lie on your back with a sliding sheet under your leg. Bend and straighten your knee by
sliding your foot up and down keeping the heel on the bed.
Repeat 10 times. Repeat 3 sets.
Seated option:
Sit on chair with a towel under one foot. Slide the foot under the chair as far as you can.
Move your knee forward, keeping the sole of your foot in contact with the floor.
Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 3 sets.
Lying on your back, place a slide sheet under your leg if you prefer. Press the knee down
and draw the foot up. Slide your leg out to the side and back to mid position.
Repeat 10 times. Repeat 3 sets.
Lying on your back with your leg straight and the other leg bent. Straighten your leg by
pulling the toes up and pushing your knee down. Lift the leg approximately 20cm off the
bed.
Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 5-10 times.
Lie on your side with your frame leg on top and the leg underneath bent. Place a pillow between your legs to protect your underneath leg from the frame.
Keeping your body still and fully onto your side, lift your top leg until it is level with your hips, keeping it in line with or slightly behind your hips, then slowly lower.
Repeat 8-10 times. Repeat 3 sets.
Sitting on a chair or the side of the bed, tighten the thigh and try to lift the leg up until your knee is straight.
Hold for 5 slow counts and slowly lower.
Repeat 5-10 times.
Sitting on a chair with the operated leg supported on a foot stool, let the knee straighten
in this position.
Hold this position for 5 minutes.
Build this time so you can relax in this position when your leg is elevated.
Lie face down with your legs straight (you may need help getting onto your front). Keep
your hips pressing into the bed and bend your knee to raise your lower leg away from the
bed then slowly lower back down to the bed.
Repeat 10 times. Repeat 3 sets.
Front-lying option:
Lie on your front with your legs straight and your foot over the edge of the bed (you may need help getting onto your front). Allow your leg to straighten as far as possible.
You can increase the stretch by bringing your toes towards your shin and keeping your knee straight.
Hold for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
You can increase this time when it becomes more comfortable and rest in this position for up to 30 minutes.
Seated option:
Sit on the edge of the bed. Place your heel down on the floor and lift your toes.
Straighten your knee as much as possible. Gently lean forward until you feel a stretch in the back of your leg.
Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat 5 times.
Page last updated: 26 June 2025