Suitable and Unsuitable Physical Activities for People Facing Knee Replacement Surgery in the Future
People with a chronic bothersome level of pain in the knee from osteoarthritis may be encouraged to consider partial knee replacement surgery in the future. Being able to stay fairly active may be possible by wearing knee sleeves and braces as directed by a doctor or physical therapist. Some men and women walk or stand a lot at work, for instance. Others want to continue doing recreational activities they enjoy, such as landscaping and gardening, or hiking in the woods. Suitable and Unsuitable Activities To prevent worsening knee pain symptoms and to reduce wear and tear on the joint, it's best to avoid certain types of activity. Anything that causes the knee to flex close to an abnormal degree and activity that causes significant impact on the leg should be avoided. Avoiding Excessive Flexing and Impact Sports like basketball and racquetball are risks for excessive knee flexing and twisting. In contrast, doubles tennis may be OK because it isn't as vigorous a sport.