I pray five times a day. When can I pray on the floor after a root repair?

Why prayer positions matter for this repair

The posterior root sits at the back of the knee, where load is highest in deep bending. Moving into sujood, sitting in tashahhud on the heels and rising from the floor all push the knee into its deepest range while weight passes through it. These movements are exactly what the repair needs protecting from while it heals to bone.

A typical progression

• First weeks to around three months: pray seated on a chair; some patients can stand for qiyam once allowed to bear weight and then sit for the remaining positions
• Around three to four months: if your surgeon is happy, start practising partial kneeling and bending on a soft surface with support
• Around four to six months: gradual return to full sujood and floor sitting as strength and comfort allow

This is a general guide. Your surgeon will adapt it to your repair, especially if an osteotomy was also done.

Making it easier at home and in the mosque

Keep a stable chair without wheels at home and use the chairs many mosques in Qatar provide. When you begin kneeling again, a folded prayer mat or cushion reduces pressure on the kneecap, and placing a hand on a chair helps you rise. Taraweeh during Ramadan involves long periods of standing and repeated positions, so plan to pray seated for part of it in the first months.

Long-term

Many patients eventually pray on the floor again comfortably. Some surgeons advise limiting very deep loaded squatting long term after a root repair, and the plan for you will depend on how the knee recovers. Dr. Gelber discusses prayer, floor sitting and majlis habits openly at Aman Hospital in Doha so the plan fits your daily life.