Recommended Equipment

Depending on your mobility after surgery and your home set up, you may need a bedside commode for safety. The bucket can also be removed so you can place the frame over your toilet for help with getting on/off the toilet easier.

Use walker skiis instead of tennis balls for your walker! The back legs of the walker come with rubber caps. You will need to replace them so you can use the walker properly.

A walker will be necessary for your safety for a few weeks. If you want to purchase a walker before surgery, practice walking in your home with it so you can be extra prepared!

A shower chair will be essential for your safety after knee surgery. Falls often happen in the bathroom. After surgery, you are at more risk of falling due to fatigue, new medication and leg weakness. Please get a shower chair for your safety!

This is my favorite “under the desk” bike. It is more expensive, but it is sturdy, quiet and reliable. It won’t move around on the ground since it is fairly heavy. You will want to keep it in one place in your home since it is hard to move. You can also add resistance to the bike, if needed. Typically, after a knee replacement, biking without resistance is more effective for managing stiffness and improve knee bending.

An ice machine is essential for knee replacement recovery. Ice is imperative for pain relief, especially duing those first 2-4 weeks post surgery when pain is highest. The ice machine will provide more consistent and longer cold therapy to help with pain. Polar Active Ice Machine is my favorite because it is extremely easy to use. Just a few tubes to connect, fill it with ice, and plug it in. If you order from their site with the coupon code, it’ll be cheaper than Amazon with free 2 day shipping! If you are having a bilateral knee replacement, order this one.

Invest in a good quality ice pack! Ice packs will be more convenient since you can walk around with them on, take them in the car, etc. ActiveWrap stays cold up to 45 mins and it is very easy to store in the freezer. The ice packs attach by Velcro into the knee sleeve. I would recommend buying a set of long duration ice packs so you can always have 2 cold ones in the freezer. ActiveWrap can also be used as a heat pack as well, which is great for relaxing sore muscles. [Can use HSA/FSA to purchase]

These bands are great to help you with strengthening your leg muscles. This brand is specific for post surgery recovery. These are the only bands I have found that do not add too much resistance during the early weeks post surgery.

During the first few weeks of surgery, using your muscles to lift your leg will be challenging. A leg lifter can make this much easier for you (and your caregiver). You can also use this strap to help you with some exercises & stretches after surgery.

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Most of the time, your surgeons office will provide extra bandages, but if they do not, Medline bandages are best. They stick better than any other brands.

Ankle weights can be used to do your knee rehab exercises. Slowly adding weights to your exercises can increase your muscle strength. This brand has many different sizes to chose from. Start with a lighter weight such as 5 lbs.

A TENS machine can be helpful for reducing pain in the short term, but it is not a long term solution for pain relief. Here is how to use the TENS Machine: click here.

If you want to keep track of your knee bending and knee straightening progress, a goniometer is a very easy tool to use. Here is a video about how to use it: click here.

Silicone is one of the only proven treatments for reducing scar appearance and scar symptoms (itching, burning). There are multiple options for silicone: sheets, spray or gel. Spray is most popular after a knee replacement since the scar may be sensitive to the sheets or with application of the gel. Please read instructions on the box to apply correctly.

This device can be used early in knee replacement recovery since it is a fairly gentle massage. Only use massage devices on the muscles.

Track your progress with this digital, smart scale that is linked to an app on your phone. The scale can monitor your for weigth loss and even track muscle mass. I love this scale because it is easy to get on and off of it. It is very low to the ground and sturdy.

If you are looking for high quality vitamins to reduce inflammation and improve health, Throne is a trusted brand with high quality ingredients.

Compression sleeves can help with knee stiffness, pain and soreness, especially if you are very active. Best to use a compression sleeve after your incision is fully healed. For more thorough information about knee sleeves and how to use them, read this article.

Massage guns can help reduce muscle soreness after surgery, especially on the surrounding muscles of the knee. This specific one by Bob and Brad has a cooling and heat attachment, which is great for pain relief and muscle soreness. Massage guns are more intensive than rolling sticks so they should be used in later phases of recovery after surgeon clearance.

An adjustable stool is great for keeping your leg elevated while you are working at your desk. Keeping your leg elevated can help with swelling and stiffness.

If you’ve had a knee replacement, you deserve a t-shirt to show the world you survived one of the hardest surgeries out there! Many members of the “Succeed With Your New Knee” Facebook Group helped design this shirt!

This massage device is like a mix between a massage gun and a rolling pin. It provides a gentle, but effective massage to the muscles, which is great after a knee replacement since the quads (and other surrounding muscles) are sore, but sensitive.

If you exercise on the floor, this mat will be extremely helpful. This mat is 1/4 inch thick compared to other exercise mats, which are 1/8 inch thick. After a knee replacement, you will need a bit more cushioning under your knee for comfort.