A month ago, I had a total knee replacement. I’m working very hard with my exercises, but the thigh muscle just doesn’t seem to contract when I try to straighten or lift my leg. Why is this?

Scientists refer to this as ‘inhibition.’ The muscle along the front of your thigh is the quadriceps. The surgery disrupts this muscle and keeps it from contracting with full force. In other words, the voluntary contraction is inhibited. Pain and swelling in the joint probably add to the problem.

A new study supports the use of electrical stimulation and biofeedback to get back the full power of the muscle. You may need a more complete rehab program with a physical therapist to regain this muscle function. It will prolong the life of your implant and reduce your risk of falls.

Reference:

Ryan L. Mizner, PT, MPT, et al. Voluntary Activation and Decreased Force Production of the Quadriceps Femoris Muscle After Total Knee Arthroplasty. In Physical Therapy. April 2003. Vol. 83. No. 4. Pp. 359-365.

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A month ago, I had a total knee replacement. I’m working very hard with my exercises, but the thigh muscle just doesn’t seem to contract when I try to straighten or lift my leg. Why is this?