Leg Stability

• In order for you to be cleared for driving, you leg needs to be strong enough and flexible enough to press on pedals and move to react. Obviously, if your car has an automatic transmission and you have had left-knee replacement surgery, driving will be easier. But if you have a clutch, it really won't matter what leg you had surgery on; you will need to demonstrate adequate reaction times and strength in order to be cleared.
  
  

Time Frame

• According to KneeReplacements.com, it generally takes longer for a right knee to heal than a left. When you go in for your six-week checkup, your doctor will review your progress to determine if you can drive. Although many people are given clearance, not everyone should expect to get behind the wheel after their six-week checkup.
  
  

What You Can Do

• It is important to not overexert your knee. A lot of this is common sense, but many people fail to use common sense because they are eager to get back to a normal life. Although this is understandable, you don't want to do more harm than good.
  Follow the program set by your physical therapist. Do the stretches and mobility exercises as directed and be sure to attend to any swelling issues. The sooner swelling is reduced, the sooner you will regain more mobility and be able to strengthen the joint.