While you're in the hospital, the therapist will try to work with you once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Your doctors will check you each day to be sure that you are getting better, as expected. Each patient progresses at their own rate. In general, we expect that the knee has full extension the day after surgery and has 90 degrees of flexion by three days after surgery. Quadriceps strength and walking ability continue to improve over several months.
Most patients are able to walk without cane or crutch by three months.
Many are able to do so in less than six weeks. Your doctor will decide whether or not CPM is beneficial for you. You are ready for discharge from the hospital when you are able to drink and eat without upsetting your stomach and you don't require any medications that need to be administered through an I.V. line. You need to be able to sit in a chair, stand up, and walk about 30 feet. In order to be discharged there cannot be any evidence of infection, blood clots, or other complications.