Total Knee Arthroplasty — Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)

University of Delaware Physical Therapy · UDPT Clinical Team

Weight-Bearing

WBAT immediately; emphasis on loading surgical limb; walking 10 min/day phase 1, 30 min/day phase 2+

Key Restrictions

No lateral patellar mobilization (surgical procedure); ROM goals: 0-90° by phase 1, 0-105° by phase 2, 0-115° by phase 3, 0-120° by phase 4; NMES at home 2x/day for first 6 weeks; clinic NMES 3x/week until quad MVIC ≥ 70% uninvolved; kneeling training prior to discharge

Timeline & Phases

Phase 1 (0-2 weeks, visits 1-6): AROM 0-90°; Phase 2 (2-6 weeks, visits 7-16): AROM 0-105°; Phase 3 (5-8 weeks, visits 16-21): AROM 0-115°; Phase 4 (7-10 weeks, visits 22-28): AROM 0-120°, stair negotiation, unlimited walking; 16-28 visits total

Notes

University of Delaware PT Clinic; tricompartmental TKA any approach; NMES at home 2x/day (250 usec, 50 Hz, 60° knee flexion, to tolerance); clinic NMES at 30% MVIC minimum; strengthening at 70% 1RM (3x8 → 3x10 progressive model); quad index target 70% at discharge; kneeling education and handouts at discharge; updated March 2021

Surgeon / Author

UDPT Clinical Team

Published

Updated March 2021