Total Joint Replacement — Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)

Brigham and Women's Hospital · R. Ghazinouri PT; Dept. of Rehabilitation Services

Weight-Bearing

WBAT with AD (unless otherwise indicated by surgeon)

Key Restrictions

No exercises with weights/resistance initially; avoid torque/twisting forces across knee especially when WB; nothing behind operative knee; towel roll at ankle for extension

Timeline & Phases

4 phases: Phase I (day 0-3, immediate post-surgical), Phase II (day 3 to wk 6, motion phase with wks 1-4 and 4-6 sub-phases, AROM >=0-110 deg), Phase III (wks 7-12, intermediate, ROM 0-115+ deg), Phase IV (wks 12-16, advanced strengthening and return to recreational activity)

Notes

ROM goals: -10 to 80 deg Phase I, >=0-110 Phase II; NMES for quad if poor contraction; CPM not standard but may be indicated; wean AD by end of 2nd week; detailed pain management section; multimodal analgesia. [Archived copy — original Brigham and Women's Hospital URL retired in the Mass General Brigham site migration; Wayback snapshot 2025-12-21.]

Surgeon / Author

R. Ghazinouri PT; Dept. of Rehabilitation Services

Published

2012