Yowza! Did you know that about 700,000 Americans get knee replacement surgery performed each year? Knee replacement procedures can lay you up for some time, and the key to getting back on your feet (literally) and doing so with good mobility and without pain is to do good consistent rehabilitative therapy post-surgery. I’ve known a number of people who have had knee replacements done, and there’s no shortage of stories of how painful and difficult the rehabilitative process can be.

If you have a swim spa or have one available to you, it can really aid in your rehabilitation. More and more patients are being urged to incorporate aquatic therapy for knee surgery recovery. The buoyancy of water relieves pressure on sensitive joins during the healing process, allowing for strength rebuilding. The floating environment also assists in stretching exercises beneficial to increase mobility.

Working the joint is key to the rehab process. A lot of patients experience pain and swelling while performing exercises to strengthen the knee and work the joint. Performing those exercises in a swim spa helps ease the pain and also helps reduce swelling.

Exercises that can help with knee replacement rehabilitation in a swim spa:

• Gentle squats (these will help warm up the joints)
• Hamstring stretches
• Hamstring lunges
• Knee extensions
• Walking at a slow pace

The buoyancy from the water in and of itself will make performing all these exercises much easier. It will help you get back to your normal routine much more quickly and back to enjoying life!