Case 27 – Post–Bilateral Knee Replacement Return to High-Level Movement

A man in his 50s with bilateral knee replacements performed years earlier continued to experience significant functional limitations despite surgery. He was unable to alternate legs when walking upstairs or downstairs, could only pedal a bicycle through half a rotation, and struggled with balance during walking. Running was painful, and kneeling for work was impossible—creating major limitations in his role as a construction worker.

After years of limitation following bilateral knee replacement, this client regained confident stair use, full cycling motion, running, and regular sport through integrated movement rehabilitation.

Following a structured movement-based rehabilitation approach focusing on lower-limb coordination, joint integration, and whole-body movement efficiency, his functional capacity improved dramatically. He regained the ability to run freely, cycle with full pedal rotation, swim comfortably, and return to regular sport participation. He now plays field hockey three times per week, reporting that he is the only player over 40 still able to run normally on the field.

He can alternate legs confidently on stairs, skip two to three steps at a time, kneel without restriction for ground-level work, and reports a marked increase in whole-body mobility. He has since begun planning to train gymnastics-based movements as part of ongoing physical development.

Clinical Practice: Heal Young Massage

Evidence-based remedial massage and movement rehabilitation services.