Limitations of Partial Knee Replacement

A partial knee replacement is a treatment option for people who have arthritis and who have not seen success with regular treatments. Part of the knee joint is resurfaced and an implant is put in to allow movement. When a partial knee replacement is done, there are some limitations that must be taken into consideration.

Running

• Running places a lot of repetitive impact on the knees, and should not be done.

Jumping

• Sports or activities that involve jumping should not be done either. These also place a lot of impact on the knees.

Twisting

• The knee cannot be twisted, as this places too much lateral pressure on the joints. Sports with side-to-side motions, like racquetball, tennis and skiing, should not be done.

Kicking

• Repetitive kicking motions, such as in kickboxing, can also be problematic to the knee.

Weight

• Anything that places a lot of weight on the knee should also be avoided. Some examples would be heavy squats, moving heavy objects or kneeling on hard surfaces.

Prevention/Solution

• Activities that are allowed do not put any stress or tension on the knees. Some examples of these would be cross country skiing, bike riding and swimming.