This Nearly Broke Me During Knee Replacement Rehab: Range of Motion

🌐 More episodes and patient resources: https://thesurgeonunmasked.com I’m Randall Schultz, MD — an orthopedic surgeon who also went through my own knee replacement recovery. In this episode, I break down the part of rehab that gave me the most trouble: range of motion — and why my hardest battle wasn’t bending (flexion)… it was getting my knee fully straight (extension). If you’re early in recovery (or helping someone who is), this video will help you understand: • Why knee motion gets hard after surgery (inflammation + scar tissue) • Why there can be a “ticking clock” for flexion early on (often ~6–8 weeks) • The 90° milestone — and what happens if progress stalls • Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA): what it is, why timing matters, and why it’s not risk-free • What “good” flexion usually looks like (and what most people can do with 110–115°) • Why knowing your numbers (flexion + extension) matters — and how to measure ROM at home Non-affiliate goniometer link (the simple tool I mention for tracking ROM): https://a.co/d/fKgtY7D NEXT EPISODE: In the next video, I’ll walk through specific at-home exercises for both flexion and extension. Medical note: This video is for general education only and isn’t personal medical advice. Always follow your surgeon and physical therapist’s guidance for your specific situation. If this helped you, please consider subscribing — I’m building a Road to Recovery series to make knee (and hip) replacement rehab less confusing and less scary.