Your leg muscles may become weak after you havehip, knee, ankle, or foot surgery. This happens because you aren’t using those muscles as much while you recover. That’s why it’s important to start strengthening them once your doctor says it’s time to. Gaining back the strength you lost after an injury or surgery is an important step in your recovery.
This article discusses the benefits of exercise after surgery. It will also teach you how to do some basic strengthening exercises that will help you recover.
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Benefits of Exercise
Leg exercises after surgery have several benefits, including:
Your leg muscles act like a pump when you contract them, moving blood through your veins. This can help prevent blood clots. Being ableto move in bedafter surgery also helps keep pressure sores from forming.
Work with a physical therapist (PT) to find the leg exercises that are right for you. This is an important step as you move forward after surgery.
Check with your doctor before you start this or any other exercise program.
Getting Started
Your first exercises should target all the major muscles of the leg.Here are a few to get you started.
Gluteal Sets
To do this exercise:
Gluteal setscan be done several times per day. This exercise isisometric, which means your muscles contract while no motion is occurring at your hip joints.
Heel Slide
RecapSimple exercises like gluteal sets and heel slides can help you regain strength in the major muscles of your leg.
Recap
Simple exercises like gluteal sets and heel slides can help you regain strength in the major muscles of your leg.
Short Arc Quad
Theshort arc quad(SAQ) is a simple way to get yourquadricep muscles workingafter injury or surgery. To do this exercise:
Quad Set
To do the quad set:
You can complete quads sets bilaterally (both knees at the same time). That way, the stronger side will come and try to help strengthen the weaker side.
This exercise helps get your quad muscles working. It also helps control the position of your kneecap. This is a good exercise to do if you havepatellofemoralstress syndrome (PFSS), also called runner’s knee.
RecapYour quadriceps straighten your leg at the knee and help keep your kneecap in place.
Your quadriceps straighten your leg at the knee and help keep your kneecap in place.
Straight Leg Raise
To do the straight leg raise:
Be sure to keep your knee straight for the entire exercise. Keep the opposite knee bent for comfort. You can complete a quad set first, to ensure the knee is straight, and then complete the SLR.
Hamstring Strengthening
Yourhamstring musclesbend your knee and extend your hip backward. Keeping your hamstrings strong after injury or surgery can help you walk normally again.
Once you can do this exercise with ease, increase repetitions to 30. You may also try adding a 2- to 3-pound ankle weight.
Hamstring Set (Heel Dig)
Physical Therapy and Home Exercise
Physical therapy can help you regain mobility after injury or surgery. It can also help if you’re just having a hard time walking or moving normally.
Your PT may prescribe leg exercises as part of your home exercise program. Over time, you may progress from simple exercises to more challenging ones. Improving your balance can also help your mobility.
With hard work, physical therapy and at-home exercises can help you get back to optimal function and mobility quickly and safely.
Hypertrophy: Definition, Triggers, and Tips to Boost Muscle
Summary
Leg exercises can help you regain mobility after surgery or an injury. They can also help prevent complications like blood clots and pressure sores.
Work with a physical therapist to find the right exercises for your situation. Doing your exercises consistently will help you regain mobility quickly and safely.
A Word From Verywell
Pain after surgery can make it hard to move around. After your procedure, check in with your PT as soon as you are able. The sooner you get started on your physical therapy and leg exercises, the faster your recovery will be.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hoogeboom TJ, Dronkers JJ, Hulzebos EH, van Meeteren NL.Merits of exercise therapy before and after major surgery.Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2014;27(2):161–166. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000062Madara KC, Marmon A, Aljehani M, Hunter-Giordano A, Zeni J Jr, Raisis L.Progressive rehabilitation after total hip arthroplasty: a pilot and feasibility study.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2019;14(4):564–581.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hoogeboom TJ, Dronkers JJ, Hulzebos EH, van Meeteren NL.Merits of exercise therapy before and after major surgery.Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2014;27(2):161–166. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000062Madara KC, Marmon A, Aljehani M, Hunter-Giordano A, Zeni J Jr, Raisis L.Progressive rehabilitation after total hip arthroplasty: a pilot and feasibility study.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2019;14(4):564–581.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hoogeboom TJ, Dronkers JJ, Hulzebos EH, van Meeteren NL.Merits of exercise therapy before and after major surgery.Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2014;27(2):161–166. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000062Madara KC, Marmon A, Aljehani M, Hunter-Giordano A, Zeni J Jr, Raisis L.Progressive rehabilitation after total hip arthroplasty: a pilot and feasibility study.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2019;14(4):564–581.
Hoogeboom TJ, Dronkers JJ, Hulzebos EH, van Meeteren NL.Merits of exercise therapy before and after major surgery.Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2014;27(2):161–166. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000062
Madara KC, Marmon A, Aljehani M, Hunter-Giordano A, Zeni J Jr, Raisis L.Progressive rehabilitation after total hip arthroplasty: a pilot and feasibility study.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2019;14(4):564–581.
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