Understanding Knee Replacement Surgery

#kneereplacement #hipreplacement #arthritis #rehabilitation

On this episode of Your Health First, we welcome Cole Oliver, a physician assistant with Fondren Orthopedic Group in Houston, Texas. Cole and his team specialize in knee and hip replacement surgery, and we discuss the many facets of joint replacement—from the conditions that lead to surgery and the indications for proceeding, to the preparation needed to achieve the best possible outcome.

A major part of that preparation is rehabilitation, or “rehab.” Rehabilitation is not limited to the period after surgery; it may begin beforehand through exercises and conditioning designed to improve strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, and overall physical readiness. Preoperative rehab can help patients build stronger muscles around the affected joint, improve mobility, learn how to use assistive devices such as a walker or cane, and become familiar with the exercises and movements they will perform after surgery. Entering surgery in the best possible physical and metabolic condition can make the early recovery period safer and more manageable.

We also discuss the importance of controlling medical conditions—including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease—before surgery. Optimizing these conditions can reduce complications, improve wound healing, support mobility, and contribute to better long-term success with a joint replacement. Cole explains that surgery is only the beginning of the recovery process. Afterward, rehabilitation typically includes a structured program of physical therapy, home exercises, walking and strengthening activities, range-of-motion work, and gradually increasing independence in daily activities.

Full engagement with the rehabilitation plan is essential. Patients must be willing to attend therapy sessions, complete their prescribed exercises at home, follow activity and safety instructions, and communicate openly with their healthcare team about pain, swelling, stiffness, or other concerns. Progress may sometimes be uncomfortable or slower than expected, but consistent participation helps restore strength and motion, reduce stiffness, improve balance and function, and allow the artificial joint to perform as intended. A technically successful operation without a serious commitment to rehabilitation may result in less-than-optimal recovery, whereas patients who actively participate in the process are more likely to achieve a strong immediate recovery and durable