There are important reasons to do daily exercises after total knee replacement surgery to strengthen the muscles that support your knee and to help straighten and bend your knee more freely. Here's a way to improve strength and flexibility in the big muscles on the front of your thigh:

1. Sit with your foot up on a support.
2. Keep your knee straight.
3. Tighten the muscles on the front of your thigh.
4. Place your hand just above your kneecap and press down — hold for five seconds then relax the muscles.
5. Repeat 10 times.

Do your exercises slowly and gently. It's all right to feel a moderate amount of discomfort, but if the pain is sharp or intense, stop the exercise immediately. If the pain goes away when you start the exercise, try it again slower and with less intensity. If you continue feeling pain even after you stopped the exercise, call your health care provider.

Here's an exercise to help strengthen your muscles and gradually build up range of motion in your knee:

1. Sit on a chair with a support under your thigh.
2. Straighten your knee — hold for five seconds.
3. Then bend your knee as far as possible without feeling more than moderate discomfort. The pain should not be intense or sharp — hold for five seconds.
4. Repeat 10 times.

One more exercise:

1. Bend your knee and plant your foot firmly on the floor.
2. Without moving your foot, slide forward slowly in your chair so your knee bends farther. Again, keep your discomfort at a moderate level.
3. Hold this position for 30 seconds then slide back in your chair.
4. Repeat five times.

Do all three of these exercises several times a day for several months after your surgery. If you let your muscles get weakened and stiff during this time, you may never be able to bend or straighten your knee fully. Help yourself recover more quickly and get the most out of your new joint by doing your exercises faithfully.