How to Recover Knee Range of Motion Six Months After Knee Replacement

Six months after knee replacement and your knee still feels stiff? You’re not alone. Many people expect a brand-new knee to bend and straighten perfectly by this point, only to realize progress has slowed — or worse, plateaued. It can feel discouraging. You might be wondering: Is this as good as it’s going to get?

Here’s the good news: in many cases, you can still make improvements — even months after surgery.

At MUV Therapy in Mississauga, we specialize in helping people recover motion, reduce stiffness, and get back to living without limits. In this article, I’ll walk you through:

• Why knee range of motion can stall after surgery

• How much bend you actually need for everyday activities

• Key routines that make the difference

• Why scar tissue isn’t always the villain (and when it is)

• How specific stretching techniques — like low load long duration (LLLD) stretches — can help

• When it’s time to see a knee replacement physio for expert guidance

Why Range of Motion Can Stall After Knee Replacement

The first few weeks after a knee replacement are critical. The more you move early on, the better your chances of regaining full bend (flexion) and straightening (extension). But sometimes, despite all the right rehab exercises, stiffness sets in.

The usual suspect? Scar tissue.

When the body heals from surgery, scar tissue can form inside and around the joint. Too much of it, or the wrong type, can limit how far the knee can move. But here’s the mistake a lot of people make: they assume that if they don’t have their full bend at six months, it’s “too late.”

That simply isn’t true. Scar tissue is not set in stone. With the right strategies — applied consistently — you can often remodel it, free up motion, and gain back those extra degrees.

Another overlooked reason progress stalls? The wrong exercises. Sometimes patients are told to “just keep doing your exercises” — but if those exercises don’t match your specific mechanical problem, you may just be spinning your wheels. That’s where a McKenzie-trained physiotherapist can make a huge difference. More on that shortly.

How Much Motion Do You Really Need?

Here’s a practical way to think about it: your knee doesn’t need to move like a gymnast’s…it needs to move enough for your daily life.

• 60–70°: Needed to walk normally

• 90°: To sit in a chair comfortably

• 105°: To get in and out of a car

• 115–120°: To climb stairs or crouch down

If you can’t reach these numbers, daily activities start to feel like obstacles. Suddenly, things you used to take for granted — tying your shoes, stepping into a car, or getting off the couch — become struggles. That’s why every extra degree of motion counts.

The Basics You Still Need to Follow

Even six months out, the basics still matter. Think of them as the non-negotiables for keeping your knee moving:

1. Daily Stretching Routine
   A few stretches once in a while won’t cut it. You need consistency. Small amounts of movement, done every day, add up.

2. Low Load Long Duration Stretches
   These are the secret weapon. Instead of forcing your knee into a painful stretch for 10 seconds, you gently hold the knee in a stretched position for a longer period — sometimes minutes. This allows tissues to adapt without triggering swelling or irritation. For example: propping your heel on a chair and letting gravity slowly straighten the knee over time.

3. Strength Work
   Don’t forget the muscles. Your quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip muscles all support knee motion. Weak muscles = less stability and more stiffness.

4. Don’t Chase Pain, Chase Progress
   More pain does not equal more gain. The right stretch should feel like a gentle pull, not torture. If your exercises always leave you more swollen, you may be doing more harm than good.

Scar Tissue: Friend or Foe?

Scar tissue gets a bad reputation — but it isn’t always the enemy. In fact, some scar tissue is necessary for healing. The problem comes when it forms in places that block motion.

The key question is: What’s really limiting your motion?

• If it’s scar tissue, targeted stretches can help remodel it.

• If it’s a joint alignment or mechanical issue, you need a different strategy.

• If it’s muscle inhibition (your muscles won’t “switch on” properly), you need activation work.

This is why cookie-cutter exercise sheets from the hospital only go so far. They don’t account for your unique situation. That’s where a trained physiotherapist can change the game.

The Role of a McKenzie Physiotherapist

At MUV Therapy, all of our physiotherapists are trained in the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT). Unlike generic rehab, the McKenzie approach focuses on figuring out the true mechanical cause of your stiffness.

For example, we once worked with a patient who was stuck at 85° bend months after surgery. Most would assume scar tissue was the issue. But with careful McKenzie assessment, we found it was actually a movement pattern problem — once corrected, she quickly gained another 20° of bend.

That’s the difference between guessing and knowing.

What You Can Do Starting Today

If you’re frustrated with your recovery, here’s a plan you can put in motion right away:

1. Measure Your Range
   See where you stand. Can you hit 90°? 105°? Write it down.

2. Build a Stretching Routine
   Include both bending and straightening stretches daily. Use the low load long duration principle.

3. Stay Consistent
   Little improvements, done daily, are more powerful than sporadic efforts.

4. Seek Expert Evaluation
   If you’ve hit a wall, stop guessing. Get assessed by a knee replacement physio in Mississauga who understands how to identify the real roadblock.

Don’t Settle for “Good Enough”

Here’s the hard truth: if you ignore stiffness, it usually doesn’t go away on its own. In fact, it often gets worse. But with the right approach, you can still recover meaningful range of motion — even at six months and beyond.

At MUV Therapy, we specialize in post-surgical rehab, including total knee replacements. Our team uses the McKenzie Method and advanced rehab strategies to help you unlock motion, reduce stiffness, and get back to the activities that matter most.

👉 Book your free discovery visit today and let us show you what’s possible.