Getting In and Out of a Car After Knee Replacement – Episode 95
Why low seats, tight door openings, and limited legroom can make car transfers unexpectedly difficult after knee replacement.
By Michelle, PT, DPT, The Total Knee Success Podcast
Getting into a low car after knee replacement combines several demanding movements in a cramped space. You must lower onto the seat, turn your body, bend your hip and knee, and bring your legs through a side opening without twisting on a planted foot.
Prefer to listen? Play Episode 95 below for the complete discussion.
Have you recently had a total knee replacement, or are you preparing for surgery and wondering what recovery will really be like? Welcome to the Total Knee Success Podcast, your resource for total knee replacement recovery and life after surgery. Hosted by Michelle Losurdo, a trusted doctor of physical therapy and board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist, this show is designed for anyone considering, preparing for, or recovering from knee replacement surgery.
In about the time it takes to put a cold pack on your knee, each episode shares practical total knee surgery tips, evidence-based guidance, and clear strategies to help you manage pain, improve mobility, and thrive through the healing process. You’ll learn about post-operative knee rehab exercises, approaches to knee replacement physical therapy, and real-world tools for building confidence, improving sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and regaining natural movement. From time to time, you’ll also hear patient perspectives and success stories that encourage you along the way.
Michelle also highlights the mindset and motivation strategies that make a lasting difference in recovery—helping you stay positive, focused, and resilient. And if you’re a family member, friend, or caregiver supporting someone through a knee replacement, you’ll find valuable insights here, too.
Please remember: Michelle is not your personal therapist and does not know you. This podcast provides general education and opinion only. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your recovery plan. This podcast is not related to her clinical or teaching roles.
If you’re ready to feel stronger and more confident on your journey—or if you’re supporting someone you care about—this is the total knee replacement podcast that will help you succeed—one step at a time
Episode 95 explains why getting into and out of a low car can feel awkward after knee replacement. Michelle discusses seat height, hip and knee mechanics, vehicle design, and a practical sit-first transfer approach. The episode also covers differences among sedans, crossovers, SUVs, and minivans, along with how clinicians may break the transfer into smaller skills to improve control and reduce unnecessary twisting.
Read the Episode 95 article and resources
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Why Low Cars Feel So Difficult
Car transfers receive less attention than walking, stairs, or standing from a chair, yet they are often one of the first practical challenges after surgery.
Seat height is a major reason. A low seat requires your hips to travel farther downward. Your quadriceps and hip muscles must control that descent while your knee may still be swollen, stiff, or difficult to bend.
Research on standing from progressively lower seats shows that lower surfaces increase strength and movement demands. Getting into a low car involves a similar challenge in reverse.¹ ²
Getting out can feel harder because you begin at the bottom of the movement. Your feet may be too far forward, the door limits where you can place them, and the vehicle may not provide a useful handhold.
Vehicle Design Changes the Movement
Seat height is only part of the problem. Several vehicle features affect how much bending, turning, and effort the transfer requires:
- A seat that slopes toward the back can leave your hips below your knees.
- Deep side bolsters can make it harder to rotate toward the door.
- A low roof requires more trunk bending.
- A narrow door opening limits room for your feet and legs.
- A very tall vehicle may require stepping upward before sitting.
Sedans often require more lowering and knee bending. Mid-height crossovers and minivans may place the seat closer to hip level and provide more room to turn. Large SUVs and trucks can create the opposite problem if the seat is too high.
The easiest vehicle is often one that allows you to sit without dropping and stand without climbing.
A Sit-First Car Transfer
A sit-first approach separates the transfer into smaller movements rather than combining stepping, ducking, turning, and lowering all at once.
The general sequence is:
- Move the passenger seat back and remove objects from the seat and floor.
- Back toward the doorway until the seat is behind your legs.
- Keep the surgical leg slightly forward if deeper bending is uncomfortable.
- Lean forward from your hips and lower onto the seat with control.
- Slide your hips back as needed.
- Turn your trunk, hips, and legs toward the front in small movements.
Moving your body and legs together can reduce twisting through a planted foot. Some people guide the surgical leg with their hands or use a leg lifter when that method has been reviewed with their physical or occupational therapist.
Getting Out of the Car
The process is generally reversed when leaving the vehicle. Turning far enough toward the doorway before standing helps place your feet in a more useful position.
Feet that remain far in front of the body provide less leverage. Starting to rise while the feet still point toward the dashboard may also create an awkward twist.
Once both feet reach the ground, sliding toward the seat edge and leaning forward from the hips can make the standing movement more controlled. Any handhold used for support should be stable and compatible with the vehicle.
Optional Car-Transfer Support
This section contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
A Portable Car-Assist Handle may provide an additional handhold during vehicle transfers. Confirm that it fits the vehicle securely and use it only as directed by the manufacturer and your healthcare professional. It should not be used with an incompatible or damaged door latch and is not a guaranteed fall-prevention device.
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When walking, balance, or everyday mobility still feels awkward, Walking Like Yourself Again After Knee Replacement offers an intentionally concise, evidence-informed explanation of factors that can influence steadier movement over time.
Why Walking Feels Awkward and How People Rebuild Smooth, Confident Walking for Everyday Life (The Total Knee Success Series Book 2)
When a Car Transfer Needs Professional Assessment
Sharp pain, sudden giving way, new drainage, or a major increase in swelling deserves evaluation by the healthcare team. Repeatedly needing another person to pull you from the vehicle can also indicate that the movement, vehicle setup, or level of assistance should be assessed.
Driving is a separate issue. Being able to enter the driver’s seat does not establish readiness to drive. Medication use, reaction time, surgeon clearance, and the ability to perform an emergency stop are separate considerations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should the surgical leg enter the car first?
There is no single sequence that fits everyone. Some people move the non-operated leg first, while others bring both legs around together. The useful sequence is the one that limits twisting and allows controlled movement.
Are SUVs always easier than sedans?
No. A mid-height SUV may reduce the distance you must lower, but a tall SUV can require climbing. The actual seat height, door width, roofline, and available handholds are more informative than the vehicle category.
Can a cushion make a low car easier?
A firm cushion may raise the sitting surface, but it can also shift, change seat-belt positioning, or reduce stability. Vehicle compatibility and professional guidance are important before using one.
A More Manageable Transfer
Getting in and out of a car after knee replacement can remain awkward even after ordinary walking has improved. The task requires controlled lowering, turning in limited space, lifting the leg, and standing from a low surface.
A seat near hip height, enough space to turn, and a sit-first movement pattern can reduce unnecessary complexity. Practicing the individual parts with a therapist can also help identify which part of the transfer is creating the greatest difficulty.
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Educational disclaimer: This article provides general education and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, transfer training, or driving clearance. Discuss personal precautions and equipment choices with your surgeon, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or another qualified healthcare professional.
References
- Shippen J, May B. Constitutive kinematic modes and shapes during vehicle ingress/egress. Appl Ergon. 2016;56:127-135. doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2016.03.017.
- Schenkman M, Riley PO, Pieper C. Sit to stand from progressively lower seat heights: alterations in angular velocity. Clin Biomech. 1996;11(3):153-158. doi:10.1016/0268-0033(95)00060-7.
- Alexander NB, Galecki AT, Grenier ML, et al. Task-specific resistance training to improve the ability of activities of daily living-impaired older adults to rise from a bed and from a chair. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001;49(11):1418-1427. doi:10.1046/j.1532-5415.2001.4911232.x.
- Orange GM, Hince DA, Jones M, et al. Physical function following total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis: a longitudinal systematic review with meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2025;55(1):1-16. doi:10.2519/jospt.2024.12361.
- Konnyu KJ, Thoma LM, Cao W, et al. Rehabilitation for total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2023;102(1):19-33. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000002008.
- Mizner RL, Petterson SC, Snyder-Mackler L. Quadriceps strength and the time course of functional recovery after total knee arthroplasty. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2005;35(7):424-436. doi:10.2519/jospt.2005.35.7.424.