Knee replacement

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By Mayo Clinic staff

More than 95 percent of people who have a total knee replacement experience significant pain relief, improved mobility and a better overall quality of life. Talk with your doctor about what you can expect from knee replacement surgery.

Three to six weeks after knee replacement surgery, you generally can resume most normal daily activities such as shopping and light housekeeping. Driving is possible in four to six weeks if you can bend your knee far enough to sit in a car and you have enough muscle control to properly operate the brakes and accelerator.

After you've recovered, you can enjoy a variety of low-impact activities, such as walking, swimming, playing golf or biking. But higher impact activities, such as jogging, skiing, tennis, and sports that involve contact or jumping, may be out. Talk to your doctor about your limitations.

MY00091

May 17, 2008

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