If there is one thing that decides how good your new knee feels in a year, it is not the surgery — it is **the exercises you do afterwards**. Surgery replaces the joint, but only rehabilitation restores the movement, strength and confidence you need to walk well again. This guide sets out the exercises that matter most after a total knee replacement (TKR), week by week, based on what UK physiotherapists actually prescribe. For the bigger picture of recovery milestones, see our [week-by-week knee replacement recovery timeline](/blog/knee-replacement-recovery-timeline-week-by-week). ## The Two Numbers That Matter Most Every exercise programme after knee replacement is built around two goals: 1. **Full extension (0°)** — the knee must straighten completely. A knee that cannot fully straighten