What Your Knees Need

Having a knee replacement doesn't have to mean the end of your tennis career if you're willing to push through a little pain. A University of Delaware doctor says, though it may be uncomfortable at first, doing exercises to strengthen the front thigh muscles known as the quadriceps after you've had knee replacement surgery is critical to recovery. In fact, it can boost the function of your new knee to a level on par with the healthy knees of people the same age.

"There are all of these old wives' tales that strength training is a detriment to the patient and that the new knee should be treated delicately," notes Lynn Snyder-Mackler, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Physical Therapy at Delaware. "... intensive strength exercise as outpatient therapy is critical to begin three to four weeks after surgery."

Nearly 500,000 knee replacements are performed every year in the United States to treat severe knee osteoarthritis, the loss of the cushiony cartilage padding the knee. While knee replacement alleviates many symptoms of osteoarthritis, patients often continue to have difficulty with basic, everyday activities like walking and climbing stairs. Snyder-Mackler's group found that people who did six weeks of strength training, 2-3 times a week starting a month post-surgery, were able to improve thigh strength significantly - far more than those who received conventional after-surgery treatment or no therapy at all.

If you've had a knee replacement, or just want to give your aging knees a power boost, try these simple thigh training moves:

Towel Press
Sit up tall on the floor with your right leg out straight and your left knee hugged into your chest. Place a rolled up bath towel under the well of your right knee. Tighten your right thigh muscles and firmly press your leg down into the towel. Hold for five slow counts then release. Do 10 repetitions and then repeat with the left leg.

Mini Leg Lifts
Sit up tall on the floor with your right leg out straight and your left knee hugged into your chest. Lift your right leg an inch off the floor and tighten your thigh muscles. Hold for five slow counts then release. Do 10 repetitions and then repeat with the left leg.