What happens after you leave hospital following knee replacement surgery?

Exercises

It is important to keep doing your exercises and gradually build up the amount of walking you do during the day. When you feel ready, start using one crutch instead of two. We would recommend to use the crutch on the opposite side to your operated leg. This ensures you are more balanced.

There is more information about using walking aids here as well as guidance on how to go up and down stairs here.

Returning aids and equipment 

If you were given equipment (for example toilet raises, elbow crutches) after your operation and you are no longer using it, please arrange to have it returned so that we are able to re-use it.

• To find out how to return walking aids (crutches, zimmer frames etc) please click here.
• To arrange to return equipment given to you by NHS staff (toilet frame, commodes, caddies for zimmer frames, furniture raises) please ring either  Penarth Road (Vale) 02920 712555 or Llanishen (Cardiff) 02920 873672.

Follow up appointments

Keep attending your follow up appointments until you and the rehab team are confident you can move on to ‘next steps’.

Your rehab team will talk to you about ‘next steps’ and how you can keep getting the most out of your new knee replacement. Options include on-going participation in leisure centre classes, virtual group and support group.