I really hate knee replacements.
I recently had an 82 year old client who had it done. She is on a fixed income. Besides her knee problem, she also had low back pain, which may have been examassageplanetated by the bad knee.
I gave her a steep price cut if she came in 2x a week. For a month, she came in twice a week. I was able to stop the back pain, but the knee was still bothering her. It was weak and gave out easily.
In my opinion, she should have had some physical therapy and pain pills to deal with the knee before they resorted to a tkr. She is in fair health and her mind is good. Six months ago, her doctor took her off her pain meds and told her to take advil. HELLOOOO??? This is an 82 year old woman!!! The pain was driving her nuts and she was having a very difficult time sleeping because of it. She would have done anything to stop the pain, so she agreed to the tkr. She is on medicare and has supplimental insurance. I think the doctor just saw dollar signs. The way my client made it sound, she was the one who suggested a knee replacement and he just said, "okay, that might work." HELLOOOOOO????
Another client who comes rgularily to a hairdresser in my building but says she cant afford massage had a double knee replacement. THe first one was about 8 years ago and the second 3 years ago. I dont know what the first one was made of, but she doesnt have any problems with it. The second one is titanium and it bothers her so much. Most of the time it is rather warm to the touch. It feels like a fresh knee raplacement that is still healing, but at the time was in for 2 years. My opinion is she is her body doesnt like that titanium and is rejecting it. Kind of like when people who have sensitive ears wear cheap earings. The difference is it is easy to take the earing out!! Not so with a titanium knee, at least not without surgury!
Anyway, kind of off target.
Knee replacements can be tricky because they limit what we can do. Any stretching which involves the knee is out. Cross friction and skin rolling are great. As far as stretching the hams and quads, you can try pinning them down with one hand while you drag a dry hand in the opposite direction.
I would also recommend your client learn to stretch their hams out as well. That stretch where you slightly bend your knees, stick out your but and try to straighten up your knees works well. Preach self massage too. Anyone with a knee replacement should have had PT, have them refer to the information thier therapists gave them.