Reflections on Range of Motion

I have been aware from the onset that regaining range of motion after TKR is big. Range of Motion is drummed into you from day one.  It is stressed how important it is to the overall recovery to get the best range you can from your new knee.  The "gold standard," as Bud put it, was 0 - 120.  That is the goal to be achieved with PT, and after it is reached, from what I understand, PT is no longer needed.

While still in the hospital, I remember, even in my drugged haze, that Ingrid measured, and I was 0 (perfectly flat) from day one.  That had to be the surgeon's expertise, I think, and I reached 90 degrees before leaving the hospital.  My feeling is that your range of motion before the surgery has to have some impact on the range of motion you are able to reach after the surgery.  My upper range has since been increasing gradually, and has reached a high so far of 127.   I have achieved that because I have worked on it, and have been proactive with the PTs.  For instance, very early on, when Bud was coming every day once I was home from the hospital, I suggested a rocking chair, which we have on the porch.  It is very difficult to increase your range by pushing, but not very difficult if you sit in a rocking chair and "rock" it.  I also asked him about an exercise bicycle, and that is how I have increased it as high as it is now.  Each time I use the exercise bike, I move the seat a notch closer.  Bud showed me how to do that carefully, by going backward very slowly until you can go around, and then cycle at that setting, and the next time move the seat up closer, and repeat.  Had I not been proactive and asked the PT about these things, it would have taken me much longer to achieve some goals.  Of course, the knee had to have been co-operative enough, but in my case, it apparently was.