Patient Recovery FAQ

Recovery after VELYS robotic knee replacement follows a structured, progressive timeline:

• Week 1: Most patients are discharged within 3–4 days. At home, you begin gentle range-of-motion (ROM) exercises and walk short distances with a walker or crutches.
• Weeks 2–6: Progressive physiotherapy sessions focus on building strength, improving ROM, and increasing weight-bearing as tolerated. Most patients transition from a walker to a cane during this phase.
• 3 months: Return to light daily activities — walking independently, climbing stairs, and light household tasks — is typical for most patients.
• 6 months: Sports, gym, and higher-impact activities are generally safe with Dr. Hardik Shah's clearance.

Because the VELYS system creates precise, patient-specific bone cuts and positions the implant optimally, soft-tissue trauma is minimised. This often translates to a faster, less painful rehabilitation journey compared to traditional knee replacement surgery.

Here is a general guide to activity milestones after VELYS robotic knee replacement:

• Walking without support: 4–6 weeks (once balance and strength targets are met)
• Driving: 6–8 weeks, subject to Dr. Hardik Shah's clearance and whether the operated leg is your driving leg
• Light exercise (stationary cycling, swimming): 8–12 weeks
• Full, unrestricted daily activity: 6 months

These timelines are averages. Your actual progress depends on age, pre-operative fitness, adherence to physiotherapy, and individual healing. Milestones are measured by achieving specific physiotherapy targets — range of motion, quadriceps strength, and balance — rather than by calendar time alone.

Being informed about potential complications — and how they are prevented — is an important part of recovery. The most common concerns, and Dr. Hardik Shah's management strategies at DHS, include:

• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Prevented through early mobilisation (walking within 24 hours of surgery), compression stockings, and prescribed blood-thinning medication.
• Infection: Reduced through perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, strict sterile technique, and DHS Hospital's NABH-accredited infection-control protocols.
• Joint stiffness: Countered through early and consistent physiotherapy to maintain and improve range of motion from day one.
• Swelling: Managed with limb elevation, cold therapy, compression sleeves, and gentle movement.

Alert your care team immediately if you experience fever, sudden increase in pain, redness and warmth around the knee, or swelling in the calf — these need prompt assessment.

Physiotherapy is one of the most important factors in determining your long-term outcome after knee replacement surgery. The VELYS system's precision — patient-specific bone resection and optimal implant alignment — typically means less collateral soft-tissue damage than traditional surgery. This can make the early rehabilitation phase more comfortable and recovery faster. However, consistent physiotherapy remains non-negotiable regardless of which surgical technique is used.

A structured physiotherapy programme is what restores full range of motion, rebuilds quadriceps and hamstring strength, corrects gait patterns, and ensures the implant performs optimally over the long term. Patients who are diligent with their physiotherapy consistently achieve better functional outcomes and return to activity sooner.

A hybrid approach works best for most patients:

• Weeks 1–4 (supervised clinic sessions): In-person physiotherapy is strongly recommended in the initial weeks. A qualified physiotherapist can ensure correct exercise technique, safely progress loading, identify early complications such as developing stiffness, and adjust the programme as you improve.
• Weeks 4–6 onwards (home-based maintenance): Once your physiotherapist is satisfied with your form and progression, a structured home programme becomes the primary mode of rehabilitation. This typically includes: gentle ROM exercises, straight-leg raises, short-arc quad sets, supported knee bends, and progressive walking.

Your home programme should be provided in writing by your physiotherapist and reviewed at each follow-up appointment with Dr. Hardik Shah's team. Do not self-modify the programme or progress intensity without guidance.

During the first 3 months, the bone-implant interface is still consolidating and surrounding muscles are rebuilding. High-impact or high-load activities should be avoided:

• Avoid: Running or jogging, jumping or skipping, heavy lower-body weight training, deep squats below 90°, kneeling on the operated knee, and high-impact aerobics.
• Why: These movements place excessive stress on the healing bone-implant junction and risk loosening, swelling, or soft-tissue injury before adequate strength and stability have been re-established.

What IS safe during this period:

• Walking on flat, even surfaces
• Stationary cycling (low resistance, seat height adjusted to reduce knee flexion load)
• Hydrotherapy or pool walking (reduces load while maintaining movement)
• Gentle ROM and strengthening exercises from your physiotherapy programme
• Light upper-body conditioning (seated or supine)

Here is an honest answer: in the first 1–2 weeks after surgery, the acute pain experience is broadly similar between VELYS robotic and traditional knee replacement. Both are significant surgical procedures, and post-operative discomfort managed with prescribed analgesia is normal for all patients.

Where VELYS robotic surgery often makes a meaningful difference is in the rate of pain reduction. Because the system minimises unnecessary soft-tissue disruption and achieves precise implant alignment, many patients report significantly lower pain levels by weeks 4–6 compared to those who underwent traditional surgery. A well-aligned, balanced implant also reduces long-term wear-related discomfort.

Pain management at DHS is individualised. Your care team will tailor your analgesic plan — typically starting with stronger medication and stepping down to anti-inflammatories and paracetamol as recovery advances.

Some degree of swelling after knee replacement is completely normal and can persist for 3–6 months. The most notable improvement typically occurs between weeks 6 and 12 as the body reabsorbs surgical fluid and inflammation subsides. Here is what you can do to manage it:

• Elevation: Raise the leg above heart level for 20–30 minutes, 3–4 times daily, especially after activity.
• Cold therapy: Ice packs (wrapped in a towel) applied for 20 minutes every 2 hours are most effective in the first 48 hours and can help after activity throughout recovery.
• Compression sleeve: Wear as advised by your physiotherapist to support the joint and reduce fluid accumulation.
• Salt restriction: Reducing dietary sodium helps limit fluid retention throughout the body.
• Light movement: Short, gentle walks prevent pooling of fluid; avoid prolonged sitting or standing.

When to call Dr. Hardik Shah's team: If swelling is accompanied by fever (above 38°C), increasing redness and warmth, sudden severe pain, or calf swelling — seek immediate assessment. These may indicate infection or DVT.

Return to physical activity follows a phased approach based on physiotherapy milestones and Dr. Hardik Shah's clinical assessment:

• 3 months: Low-impact cardiovascular exercise — swimming, stationary cycling, and brisk walking — is generally safe to begin.
• 4–5 months: Light lower-body strength training with progressive loading, guided by your physiotherapist.
• 6+ months (with clearance): Sport-specific drills and recreational sports such as golf, doubles tennis, and road cycling can be re-introduced.

Because VELYS robotic surgery optimises implant positioning and alignment, some patients achieve these milestones slightly ahead of those who underwent traditional surgery. However, high-impact sports — running, basketball, football, badminton — are generally not recommended long-term following any knee replacement, as they can accelerate implant wear. Always get explicit clearance from Dr. Hardik Shah before returning to any sport.

Travel after knee replacement is possible, but requires planning to protect against DVT and discomfort:

Car travel:

• Short trips (up to 30 minutes) are generally acceptable from around 4 weeks, provided you can elevate the leg slightly and exit the vehicle comfortably.
• Longer road journeys are advisable after 6 weeks. Stop every 45–60 minutes to get out, walk briefly, and perform ankle pumps.

Air travel:

• Flights are typically safe from 4–6 weeks post-surgery, provided DVT risk has been assessed by your surgeon.
• Wear graduated compression stockings for the entire flight.
• Stay well-hydrated and avoid alcohol.
• Perform in-seat ankle pumps and calf raises every 30 minutes; walk the aisle hourly on longer flights.
• Request an aisle seat or bulkhead row to allow leg extension.

Airport security: Your knee implant will likely trigger metal detectors. Carry a medical implant card or a letter from Dr. Hardik Shah confirming the surgery. This is standard procedure and security staff are familiar with it.