4 Best KNEE EXTENSION Exercises and 1 BONUS Flexion Exercise

4 Knee extension exercises to perform after a total knee replacement surgery. Knee extension is your ability to straighten your leg. Full knee extension is required to walk without a limp.
00:00 Exercise 1 cross legged knee extension in standing
02:00 Exercise 2 back leaning knee extension in standing
02:47 Exercise 3 seated cross legged extension
03:29 Exercise 4 seated heel on toe knee extension
04:40 Exercise 5 knee flexion
💚 Recommended Amazon Products 💚:
✔️Best Cold Gel Pack: amzn.to/3eM3Ojl
✔️Calf Stretch Wedges: amzn.to/2XSuWX0
✔️Frozen Massage Roller: amzn.to/3csN6nw
✔️Seated Pedal Bike: amzn.to/3dNLqG3
✔️PCP Pedal Exercise Bike: amzn.to/2ZOHzVl
📲 Please join our FREE Facebook group: / totalkneereplacements
📝 Blog: totaltherapysolutions.com/tot...
📞 Click Here To Schedule A Call With Me: tinyurl.com/y2l9x439
About the author:
Hi, my name is Anthony (Tony) Maritato, PT. I am a licensed physical therapist and owner of Total Therapy Solutions. I have specialized in helping clients recover from total knee replacement surgery since 2002 and have created this video to help YOU.
Total Therapy Solutions
5900 Long Meadow Dr
Middletown, OH 45005

[@beverlybess8737]

Very helpful. I can do this. I am someone who has much pain and the exercises my therapist gives me to do at home are too painful for me. I am sorry but I don’t do them. After my therapy,I am so painful I can’t do anything. Can’t even bend my knee to get under the sheet to go to bed for a day or two.

[@themamma341]

From a person who is having trouble straightening my leg due to many months of limping, then total knee surgery 4 wks ago, you have helped me so much, and I thank you for your kind and honest guidance. I think I won't worry now, and simply do your suggestions multiple times throughout the day. You are the best!

[@kayshelton2132]

"Never underestimate the inevitability of gradualness".

[@barbigoschen8692]

I must watch this again.😊 You are correct with too much in one setting then I don't want to do any more, ever!😂 Thank you Tony!

[@lindaincolorado2646]

Thank you, I'll try this! I am 9 weeks out from tkr and still working on Bend and extension.

[@theresehumphrey2435]

Love these exercises. I’m 3mos. Post LTKR & still at 5 extension. I’m hoping I can get to 0. I’m trying these exercises right now while I’m cooking! :) Thank you for all your great informative videos! They’ve helped me tremendously! Trying my best not to get discouraged on lack of ROM -hoping with time & gradual small amounts of exercises throughout the day-I will eventually get there!

[@RussIsRight]

I'll give them a try! I am at about 5 degrees of extension currently. I also put my leg up on my desk when sitting and working on my computer and put my non-surgical leg on top of the surgical leg. I have also been doing the one where I put my surgical leg's foot on top of my non-surgical leg's foot while sitting with a stool next to me. Good tips! Keep them coming!

[@cynthiareyes7722]

So,so,so glad this popped up on you tube So easy and feels good on my knee cap which I fractured it's four months now,thank you

[@totaltherapysolutions]

Thanks for sharing.

[@sikhbookclub]

He is a genius, thinks outside the box, must watch if you have 5 degree extension left.

[@nancycaird7872]

These are perfect, Tony. I was just at my surgeon’s and despite exercising 2x a day my extension isn’t quite to zero yet. This gave me hope and not so daunting as exercising twice a day for a long period. Thank you so much!

[@devyanisingh6507]

Thank you so much great. Last 3 months before I have meniscus problem this exercise work for me

[@kmgreenrph]

Thanks Tony

[@havefunandbikestuff]

This is exactly what I need! Post 3x surgeries on my tibia shin area after I was a hit and run victim. Currently working on Knee full extension & strength in total leg. Thank you for this.

[@barbaradonald9497]

Thank you. I will definitely try!

[@thunter1003]

Thank you 😊

[@mailybrewer6430]

Thank you Tony! I have been substituting many of your exercises with other "traditional" ones and finding them to be so achievable and effective. I am so grateful for your expertise!

[@lynnjoyce8932]

I was over working......then i saw you video and i'm much better thank you.😃

[@hotmixxable]

I do these automatically and thought I was harming more than helping . Good to know I'm ahead of my own curve😃

[@LauraSilva-yw4wz]

Great suggestions, thanks Tony.

[@fabiolacaraveo1364]

Tony, you're awesome, thank you

[@thomasnewell4229]

Another great video

[@christinamilkowski2469]

Awesome suggestions!! Thank you, once again, Tony! ❤️

[@kristinohlson5625]

Such a helpful video! Thank you.

[@mppineda1953]

This is very helpful. I will do these exercises from your video.

[@patcarmody7592]

Thank you for all your videos!!! They are so helpful and inspiring!

[@timbaillie467]

Awesome video. Your videos have helped me so much through my TKR

[@pedropuckerstein4670]

This is the best - for my quad muscle surgery - thank you

[@Cidsherenow]

This is so good, looking forward to using it after surgery. Thanks!

[@gosman949]

My PT and I have been trying so hard to get my two knees to full extension. His idea is to push on it with lots of pressure. And then have me hang weights off the leg while extended watching tv. But I haven't been doing it enough at home. So now I have some other ways to do it thanks to your video. Hopefully this will help.

[@hamidmakhmour3703]

You are awesome

[@OliviaClark8787]

This is goooood 😅😅😅

[@Queenann06]

Love this very helpful, question is there hope for more and more flexion after 3 or 4 months of surgery

[@nitanayak1420]

Thank you that was helpful n insightful

[@jangriffin-fi1yx]

Good advice thanks Tony hoping to try resting L/TKR knee on chair turning it backwards forwards now & again think that will be simple effective solution to help improve ROM. Going to try exercises for short spell not long as think been at times over doing in effort to get better ROM but then can't properly exercise for couple of days due to swelling tightness soreness.

[@bethbryan1722]

My right TKR is tomorrow and I've learned so much from your videos! Thank you so much for the valuable information. I'm sure it will aid me in my recovery.

[@danieljohnvenne1569]

Tony, your ideas are exactly what I needed to see and hear. Thanks SO much!

[@totaltherapysolutions]

Thanks for the support!

[@cougarwomanmoorhead-dougla1772]

Thanks for the advice and video. I think it's going to a great help for me. I am at 9 weeks and have extension issues and spasms. I will let you know if this helps ☺️

[@RohitSharma-nk4pi]

Can we do leg pulling for knee extention

[@bayleigh.winzenburg]

@totalhterapysolutions I was just doing the counter exercise by bringing my left leg over my new right knee. I had a left hip replacement a few years ago and wondering if this was close to a motion my doctor said 1 thing not to do, was like kicking my leg from left to right. I could feel the pressure on my hip so I stopped, wasn't sure I should put too much pressure on my hip across that way, I've had no problem with it, but wondering if you had any thoughts about that. I am enjoying your videos on my path to recovery after total right knee replacement. I appreciate your rest, relax, repetition attitude,, it will come. I am pleased with my recovery so far and at 17 days starting to get much pain relief, lots of fluid is gone, and walking pretty well, thanks to you not worrying about numbers. Back to PT on Tuesday.

[@denisesc21]

This was super helpful info! I have full extension now on my surgical leg but I’m trying to avoid surgery on the other and I don’t have full extension anymore. I’d like to see if I can work on getting it back. Maybe won’t work but the longer I can avoid the second leg the better. Thanks!

[@chrisbruno1086]

Thanks for the tips! I am 6 months post ACL/meniscus repair and have been released from PT. I don’t quite have full extension or flexion really appreciate the these tips.

[@totaltherapysolutions]

Hi Chris, full extension is tough after an ACL reconstruction. The thing is if it were me, I would rather have a knee that is too tight than one that is too loose. The rest of your extension will come with slow, deliberate work, but don't rush it.

[@darlenericotta7550]

Thanks for the ideas for stretching for range of motion. Great video.

[@totaltherapysolutions]

Thanks for always watching and commenting.

[@darlenericotta7550]

@@totaltherapysolutions your welcome!

[@scribeofsolomon3399]

Hello Tony! I'm 6 weeks out of a patellar tendon reconstruction in 2 weeks I've been able to break 52 degrees flexion but the problem I have is I can't seem to be able to lift my heels off the ground. I’ve been doing to quad contraction like crazy but still no result. What can I do?

[@shelbylou02]

Hi Tony, I'm 9 weeks post-op from a RTKR but lacking 10 degrees extension. I'm walking a lot but limping. 😢 I had to go back to work last week bc of financial reasons but very worried about my extension. Any advice Tony? PS I did 6 weeks of physio too. Tfs 😊

[@eveclipspeed]

Thank you sooo much...Im at 2..but definitely want to be 0...will start today

[@shabanabai9813]

I am on to 4th week ,done left knee robotic TKR . There was hardly any pain post op. Nevertheless sleep evades me some nights due to some pain inside the front /back knee, calf muscles. But the pain subsides after some movement of the leg and not taking any pain killers. The main problem recently is I bend the surgical knee to a few degree while sleeping and these days I find it very difficult to straighten the knee, as if some knot is tied at the front of the knee. please help

[@mikecarlogarcia]

can you help me with some exercise to remove my knee locking everytime i straightened it then when i bend it something is locking in front of my knee.

[@sabihaalavi1553]

Tony good information but pls give bilateral total knee replacement exercises

[@simplytruth9729]

Will these be good for non surgical ACL injuries? THANKS

[@johnkennedy528]

Thanks Tony, I'm at 4 degrees shy of zero at 12 days post TKR.

[@sherrcon]

good job john!!!!!

[@meenadeem]

A awesome..

[@igortretsnom]

I had my first knee replacement 20 years ago. It is at -3 degrees. My PT told me I couldn't get it any closer to 0. Do you agree?

[@manjireekulkarni8835]

What if it's bilateral surgery?

[@ondway2life]

plz reply me tony , can i get extension and flex after 2month stiff knee acl surgery on my own?

[@chrisbruno1086]

I am 6 months post ACL/meniscus surgery and don’t quite have full range of motion and have been released from PT. My knee also feels very stiff so I have been working hard on my own to get there, not sure if I will ever get it to the same as my other knee which is my goal but I have seen progress

[@ondway2life]

@@chrisbruno1086 i am 5 month post acl meniscus surgery. i feel better but its slow process i believe . have not gained full range neither

[@AkashMulik7]

My knee extension not retaining even after exercise. Can you please help😐

[@paulsolon6229]

Just stand on one leg Repeatedly Work up slowly to an hr or more. It will also cure hips snd ankles.

[@pat2982]

Why is my whole lower leg sensitive?

[@virgilcosta6543]

got hit by a car 7 months and broken leg,,got surgery,metal plate,screws on side of my right leg right under knee,7 monts ago,november 27 2020,now its june 1st and knee bends now but knee is not fully straight with leg,been going to therapy alot cause leg was straight after i got surgery for 3 months,dr got my leg to bend 90 degreese after 60 sessions, but needs to go another quarter the way and hurts when i bends it, its been bending,also i started to worked out on my bench to work on my hamstrings and caffs and all leg muscles my bench lets me do, also,if i put weights on top of my leg up of my knee or push my leg,it goes straight but then it bends a little again and leg dont stay straight especially shows when im standing and making it hard to walk,so im in a wheel chair since this happened 7 months ago,i use a walker also to get around,my left leg has been taking all my weight and is well built,i weigh 200pds and was weighing 230 before while i was at a stop sign until i started working out agin,i keep in shape,my right leg is just starting to get muscle in it,but wont stray straight when standing or laying,it only staightens when i push it straight,been dealing with alot of pain but i can handle it and will try whatever u think,even if u can send me a link to a video to help out,im not giving up on this and refuse any surgery because im willing to deal with pain by stretching my knee until my leg is straight,this is a very serious injury,need all help advice,please,,any opionions u think or help advice u can give,if anything u can also email me at virgilcosta1976123@@t thank you

[@eddyjimenez-scorpio]

You described me to a T. I destroy my self at home to the point im wiped out next day. I will change my strategy. Thanx Doc.

[@totaltherapysolutions]

See my last reply. Rest more between workouts.

[@nirmalanair1981]

Hi Tony. Thanks for the tip. I have had bilateral TKR, my left knee is not recovering at the same level as my right. I m 0 on my right n 5% more on my left. Can I do these exercises? I hope you can make videos for those who have had BTKR. Thanks Tony!

[@brendacarroll7314]

I also had BTKR and my left knee is not making the same progress as the right, so frustrating! Good luck to you!

[@nirmalanair1981]

@@brendacarroll7314, I m now doing more exercises to straighten the left knee. At PT, I lay on my stomach n weights (4kilos) is hung on my ankles for 10 minutes. I also rise my leg up as I lay down on my back n use put a towel at the bottom of my feet n straighten my leg by pulling the towel towards me. I also use a ball n press my heel into it as hard as I can n at the same time straighten my knee. I hold it for 10 seconds n repeat 10x. When I walk I make a deliberate attempt to straighten my knee. I hope this helps. Just sharing. Nirmala.

[@brendacarroll7314]

@@nirmalanair1981 thank you for these tips! Will give them a try!

[@patcarmody7592]

Thank you for all your videos!!! They are so helpful and inspiring!