Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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Non-weight bearing - exercises/mobility/stairs
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1. Quad set in bed Lie on your bed. Straighten your leg and press the back of your knee down into the bed. You should feel your thigh muscle tighten. Hold for 5 seconds, then relax. 10 reps x3 a day |
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2. Knee bends in bed While lying on your back or reclining, slowly bend your operated knee. Hold for a few seconds, then return to the starting position. From day 5 after your operation, you can begin to increase your knee bend. With each repetition try to encourage the knee bend further to increase your range of movement. 10 reps x3 a day |
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3. Glute squeezes Lie on your back or reclined. Tighten your buttocks by squeezing them together firmly, then relax. 10 reps x3 a day |
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4. Inner range quads Sit with a rolled towel or foam roller under your knees so your legs are supported. Tighten the thigh muscles on your affected leg to straighten the knee and lift your heel off the surface. Hold for a few seconds, then slowly relax back to the starting position and repeat. 10 reps x3 a day |
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5. Straight leg raise Sit on the bed with your legs straight out in front. Pull your toes up, press the back of your knee down, and gently lift your operated leg. Hold for a few seconds, then lower back down and repeat. 10 reps x3 a day |
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Mobility with crutches (non-weight bearing) Stand on your good leg with your elbow crutches by your side, ensuring you are not weight bearing through your operated leg (Figure 1). Place your elbow crutches approximately a foot in front of you (figure 2). Hop your good leg onto the imaginary line between your two crutches (figure 3 and 4). Continue this sequence, ensuring you do not put any weight through your operated leg.  |
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Going up the stairs Stand at the bottom of the stairs, close to the first step, ensuring you do not weight bear through your operated leg. Place your hand firmly on the rail and your crutch close to your side (figure 1). Bend your affected leg up behind you. Push your weight firmly through your hands and hop your good leg onto the step (figure 2). Finally, bring your crutch up to join your foot on the step (figure 3). Repeat this sequence for each step until you reach the top.
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Going down the stairs Stand at the top of the stairs, close to the first step, ensuring you do not put any weight through your operated leg. Your operated leg can be kept behind you or in front of you. Place your hand firmly on the rail and your crutch close to your side (figure 1). Place your crutch onto the step you are going to move down to (figure 2). Push your weight firmly through the crutch and stair rail and hop down with your good leg onto the step below (figure 3). Repeat this sequence for each step until you reach the bottom.
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Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Physiotherapy service.
About this information
Service:
Physiotherapy
Reference:
BB/071
Approval date:
30 April 2026
Review date:
1 April 2029
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.