Seated Assisted Knee Bend

Gently improves how far the knee can bend — often the most important early flexion exercise.

Seated Assisted Knee Bend exercise illustration

What it helps

Gently improves how far the knee bends — early flexion that makes stairs, chairs, and cars far easier.

How to do it

  1. Sit in a chair with both feet on the floor.
  2. Place your non-operative leg in front of the operative leg.
  3. Use the non-operative leg to gently help bend the operative knee further.
  4. Hold briefly, then relax.

Tips

  • Go only as far as is comfortable.

Commonly done as 5-10 repetitions, every 1-2 hours while awake.

Where this appears in recovery

Seated Assisted Knee Bend is part of 8 recovery programs, typically in the before surgery and phase 2 and phase 3 and phase 1 stage. Each program shows how it fits alongside the other movements:

All exercise guides · Condition guides · Recovery education

These are general exercise guides, not a personal prescription. The repetitions and frequency shown are what's commonly used — your own surgeon or therapist may advise something different, and their guidance comes first.