Dr. Caillouette Orthopedics

There are a series of exercises that you will be performing before and after your surgery. These gentle exercises will help to strengthen the muscles around your knee and will give you the advantage of having the strongest leg muscles possible. These exercises are an important part of your preparation and recovery from joint surgery. You will review these exercises with your physical therapist after your surgery. You will be doing some of these exercises every 1-2 hours on your own while at the hospital. Do not hold your breath while doing exercises.

We have compiled these exercises in a comprehensive brochure for you to download, print, and refer to offline.

Download our guidelines for pre and post-surgical exercises here

		Start performing these exercises immediately and continue until the day of your surgery.

		Perform each exercise 10 times, twice per day. Practice with both legs.

		Also, walk as much as possible as is comfortable.

Prepare for your hospital release:
Before going into the hospital, consider the support system you will need when you return from the hospital. You will need some assistance for the first few weeks with cooking, bathing, shopping, housecleaning, errands, etc. If you do not have a caregiver, spouse, companion, friends or family members who are able to assist you, it may be appropriate to go to a skilled nursing facility.

Here are some items and home modifications that will make your return home easier during your recovery:

		Securely fastened safety bars or handrails in your shower or bath.

		A stable chair for your early recovery with a firm seat cushion that allows your knees to remain lower than your hips. a firm back, and two arms.

		A raised toilet seat.

		A stable shower bench or chair for bathing.

		A long-handled sponge and shower hose.

		A reacher that will allow you to grab objects without excessive bending of your hips.

		Firm pillows to sit on that keep your knees lower than your hips for your chairs, sofas, and car.

		Removal of all loose carpets and electrical cords from the areas where you walk in your home.

Thoroughly review your insurance benefits and/or alternative plans for payment. Find out what your insurance plan or Medicare covers. Are medical aids such as crutches, walkers and raised toilet seats reimbursable expenses? Does your plan cover in-patient care in a skilled nursing facility? What about home healthcare?

If you have any questions about your health insurance benefits, please call your insurance plan's customer service department. The number is usually toll-free and can be found on the back of your insurance card.

Maintaining a healthy diet and good nutrition are key to helping your recovery and leading a more comfortable life overall. You should discuss your general nutrition and current weight with Dr. Caillouette prior to surgery and together you can develop a plan for maximizing your nutrition and achieving your ideal body weight. Remember that excess weight can create added stress to weight-bearing joints. A desirable weight will promote optimal health and make physical activity easier.

To find your ideal weight, please refer to our body weight chart.

Download our Pre-Admission Checklist here.

Download our comprehensive brochure about Total Knee Replacement to refer to offline here.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view items that you download from this site. If you do not already have this on your computer, you can download it from Adobe here.