Knee Replacement Rehabilitation: From Early Movement to Everyday Function

Rehabilitation after knee replacement begins early. NICE recommends that physiotherapy or occupational therapy rehabilitation is offered on the day of surgery where possible and within 24 hours, with advice on daily activities, home exercise and mobilisation.

Early phase: movement and confidence

The early goal is not to prove how much exercise you can tolerate. It is to regain safe mobility, work on knee movement, practise transfers and walking, and understand the exercises prescribed by the hospital team.

Next phase: rebuild strength

As healing and movement progress, rehabilitation usually places more emphasis on quadriceps and lower-limb strength, walking tolerance, sit-to-stand, stairs and other functional tasks. Resistance and volume should be progressed according to recovery and individual guidance.

Self-directed does not mean unsupported

NICE supports self-directed rehabilitation for many people after hip or knee replacement, but the person should understand the goals and have a point of contact for advice. Supervised rehabilitation is appropriate when daily activities remain difficult, specific functional problems persist or self-directed rehabilitation is not meeting goals.

Follow the surgical pathway

Surgical precautions, wound care and progression can vary. Your surgeon and hospital rehabilitation team remain the primary source for procedure-specific instructions, especially in the early postoperative period.

Use Start Here: Find Your MSF Recovery Pathway to understand how MSF Physiotherapy, supported rehabilitation and the Knee Replacement Recovery pathway can complement—not replace—your surgical team's plan.