open dataset · last reviewed 2026-06-05
Total knee replacement recovery data
Every measured number behind the Knee replacement recovery timeline, with the study each one came from. knee · confidence high · 1 interpolated point not listed. Part of the recovery data index. Quote it, chart it, cite it — a link back is all we ask.
Published cohort data. Not medical advice, not a prediction for your body, and not a substitute for your surgeon or clinician.
Measured pain by week
| Week | Typical pain | Band | Scale | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 6 /10 | 4–8our estimate — the paper prints no range | 0–10 as published | study |
| 1 | 4.7 /10 | 3.5–6.5our estimate — the paper prints no range | 0–10 as published | study |
| 2 | 5.4 /10 | 3–7our estimate — the paper prints no range | 0–10 as published | study |
| 26 | 1 /10 | 0–3.8a comparison, not a spread — The high edge is the average pain of the roughly 1-in-7 patients who had NOT recovered by 6 months — not the top of normal variation among people who did recover. | 0–10 as published | study |
Documented milestones
| Week | Milestone | Reported range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | Hospital discharge | Usually 1-3 days | study |
| 6 | Off crutches or cane / walking unaided | Around 6 weeks | study |
| 6 | Driving resumed | About 6 weeks for total knee | study |
| 10 | Strength gate >=80% of non-operative limb | 8-12 weeks | study |
| 11 | Return to work | 6-12 weeks sedentary; 3-6 months for physical labor | study |
take this
Cite Total knee replacementone line, ready to paste
Steady. Total knee replacement recovery data: 4 measured pain points and 5 milestones, from 3 cited sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-05. https://growsteady.me/recovery-data/total-knee-replacement
Embed the Total knee replacement chartfree to use on your own site, with the credit line kept
The image is drawn from the table above and redraws whenever the data is reviewed, so an embedded copy never goes stale. Open the image →
<figure>
<img src="https://growsteady.me/recovery-data/total-knee-replacement/curve.png" alt="Typical pain by week after Total knee replacement, from published studies" width="1200" height="675" loading="lazy" />
<figcaption>
Pain band after Total knee replacement, from
<a href="https://growsteady.me/recovery-data/total-knee-replacement">the Steady recovery data index</a>.
</figcaption>
</figure>every paper cited here (34)
- Mapping the course to recovery after TKAprospective cohort · backs 3 pain, 5 card
- nhs.uknot yet reviewed · backs 3 milestone, 3 card
- boneandjoint.org.uknot yet reviewed · backs 2 card
- massgeneral.orgnot yet reviewed · backs 1 milestone, 1 card
- PMC6746267not yet reviewed · backs 2 card
- PMC6858006not yet reviewed · backs 1 pain, 1 card
- PMC8487473not yet reviewed · backs 2 card
- PMC9741301not yet reviewed · backs 1 pain, 1 card
- PMID 39271495not yet reviewed · backs 2 card
- Return to sports and work after TKAmeta-analysis · backs 1 milestone, 1 card
- boneandjoint.org.uknot yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- Early postoperative pain trajectories after TKAprospective cohort · backs 1 card
- journals.plos.orgnot yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMC10733550not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMC12096998not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMC4140618not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMC4647493not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMC4835733not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMC6381229not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMC7814195not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMC8635544not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMC9039409not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMID 20798443not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMID 23090437not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMID 25737387not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMID 29897271not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMID 30773356not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMID 34564735not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMID 35227816not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMID 36252743not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMID 37100814not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMID 38777908not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- PMID 39952303not yet reviewed · backs 1 card
- sciencedirect.comnot yet reviewed · backs 1 card
take the data
This procedure's records as JSON — one per question a person actually asks, each with the answer written out in full and the study beside it: /recovery-data/total-knee-replacement/claims.json. The whole dataset lives on the recovery data index.
The data says what a cohort did. Your own log says what you did — and saves you from re-arguing week six from memory.
Start a recovery logThis page reports published cohort data. It is not medical advice, not a prediction for your body, and not a substitute for your surgeon or clinician. New severe or rapidly worsening pain, fever or chills, a hot swollen calf, chest pain or breathlessness, wound redness or discharge, or new numbness or weakness are reasons to contact your surgical team promptly.