Lifestyle Changes

Little changes in your lifestyle can make a big difference in caring for your knee, from maintaining a healthy weight to exercising correctly. Now that you’ve had your surgery, you’ll want to do everything you can to help keep your knee in good shape. Making smart and healthy choices can help.

Manage your weight

Every pound of excess weight exerts about 3 pounds of extra pressure on the knees.¹ The added weight adds unnecessary stress to your joints. That’s why it’s so important to manage your weight.

Wear the right footwear

Believe it or not, when you wear high heels, you are putting extra stress on your knees. High heels shift your body forward, putting added pressure on your knee joint. To help keep your knees healthy, consider supportive and comfortable shoes.^2,3

Exercise

Exercise will be key in caring for your knee. Your doctor or physical therapist will recommend certain exercises that help strengthen the muscles that support your knee. Of course, you should make sure to perform the exercise correctly and don’t strain any muscles, as this could hinder your rehabilitation.

Be careful on stairs 

Climbing up and down stairs can really put pressure on your knee. To alleviate some of this pressure, simply hold on to the rail as you go up and down stairs.