I took an early retirement from the Postal Service because of knee pain. I am otherwise in good health, but am crippled with arthritis and barely able to walk one block with a cane. I have decided to have an artificial knee replacement next fall. What can I do to prepare for this surgery?

Preparing months ahead of an anticipated knee replacement surgery will help to speed your recovery. The regiment of stretching, exercise, knee motion, and walking after knee replacement surgery has been accelerated over the past 25 years. I would advise you not gain any weight. If you are overweight, try to lose weight. Additional pounds make it difficult to maneuver. Begin a progressive exercise program to increase your aerobic capacity. The more fit you are before surgery, the smoother your rehabilitation will be. Utilizing a pool for exercise has many advantages. It puts little stress on the arthritic joints and allows one to work against water resistance. Water helps to relax muscles so that stretching in a pool can increase your range of motion. You can also increase your fitness and aerobic capacity by exercising your upper extremities. An ergodyne machine, the equivalent of a bicycle for your upper extremities, is a great method of exercising when your knees are too painful to use the standard stationary bike. Straight leg raises where you lie on your back and lift your leg upward while maintaining your knee straight is an excellent exercise. This exercise produces little stress on the knee joint while working and toning your hip and thigh muscles. Studies have shown that aggressive postoperative rehabilitation reduces the risk of blood clots, pneumonia, and improves the knee function. Approaching a knee replacement surgery with a preoperative exercise program as well as shedding any unnecessary weight can enhance the recovery process. Preparing in this fashion will allow one to work aggressively to restore the knee function and walking capacity soon after surgery.