Total Knee Surgery – “Can I Use Heat?”

December 4, 2025

If you’ve had Total Knee Replacement (TKR) surgery, you might be wondering if you can safely use heat to ease up the stiffness in your knee, especially along the back of your knee…

The most common answer you’ll hear regarding using heat is “No, you should only use ice.”

And while this makes sense on the surface (since the knee is so swollen and irritated after surgery), simply saying “No” isn’t the best answer.

In fact, there are some very good uses for heat following total knee replacement surgery, especially along the back of your knee where you have tight hamstring and calf muscles.

In this video, I’ll explain the how, when and where to safely and effectively use heat following TKR surgery, which will help you regain full knee ROM (especially full knee extension).

After watching the video, if you’d like to use a heating pad at home, here’s an inexpensive, highly rated option on Amazon: click here!

Best of luck with your recovery!

– Luke Gordon, DPT

(Doctor of Physical Therapy/Owner of Gordon Physical Therapy)