Case study · Post-Surgery
Rehabilitation
14 weeks · 22 sessions · Treated by Dr. Nora Ellison
The starting point
Margaret, 61, came to us four weeks after a total knee replacement — stiff, nervous on stairs, and sleeping badly. Her surgeon wanted full weight-bearing by month three; Margaret wanted to garden again without thinking about her knee.
The challenge
Range stuck at 82 degrees of flexion, a visible limp, and fear of the stairs that was shrinking her world. Previous physio elsewhere had been ten rushed minutes and a photocopied sheet.
The approach
- Weeks 1–4: swelling control, gentle activation and gait retraining with crutches, twice weekly.
- Weeks 5–9: progressive closed-chain strengthening, stationary cycling and stair practice.
- Weeks 10–14: balance work, outdoor walking programme and garden-specific drills — kneeling, carrying, turning.
Results
- Flexion improved from 82° to 124°, matching her other knee.
- Stairs foot-over-foot without a rail by week 11.
- Back to full gardening days with rest breaks by week 14.
“Nobody rushed me and nobody babied me. Every session had a reason, and I could feel the difference each Friday.”