Leg Elevation

Leg elevation can be advantageous to healing after knee surgery. It promotes basic blood circulation that brings oxygen and nutrients to the parts of your body that need healing most. Elevation can also prevent blood clots and can reduce swelling and pain.

Elevate periodically throughout the day, especially after exercising, as needed. Most importantly, the foot on your treated leg should be ABOVE your heart when properly elevating.

Frequency: Elevate periodically throughout the day, especially after exercising, as needed. Most importantly, the foot on your treated leg should be ABOVE your heart when properly elevating.

Try using a short, double wide laundry basket as a convenient, cheap, and comfortable method for elevating your leg.

Flip the basket upside down, and orient it so that its longest edge is parallel to your leg.
Place a pillow on top of the basket to comfortably support your calf. Then fold a pillow to support your heel—this will support your ankle and prevent injury from a drooping foot.
Lastly, it might be comfortable to position a pillow for support underneath your leg between where your bottom meets the bed, and your calf meets the basket. However, make sure that your leg is straight. Do NOT let that pillow prop your leg out of a straight position. This can cause a permanent tightening of the muscle that will inhibit full knee extension.