@Jamie I appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to read through my thread. With regards to the upcoming test, the other person is instructed to provide no more than 5% resistance, which means that they are just to *be a body* and not resist. They are not supposed to *help* either as both parties risk injury in that case.
There is a huge focus on safety, and things are done in a way to promote everyone's safety. This curriculum has also been vetted by more than 5 medical groups as well, and has been determined to be very safe for all involved when done correctly.
Having done this in the past, both as just a *student* as well as an *instructor*, I know that there is no pivoting action to my knees. All of the going to the floor motions mimic a lunge. Prior to TKR I had practiced the *assists* on my own on a regular basis to try to develop muscle memory.
While this is the 1st time I will be going through the recertification process, it is my understanding that there is far less repetition of the assists than there was during the initial certification. Basically I just need to demonstrate that I can perform all of them appropriately just once, and do not have to engage in repeated practice. I should also be able to go through the practice (before the official skill out) with some modifications such as pretending there is a person. I will also seek out the smallest and lightest person to do the skill out with. For the practice it is preferred to match height wise due to the need to switch roles, but there is the option to choose who will be your *acting out person* for the skill out.
I know that I should get a cart, but I haven't yet found one that suits my needs and can traverse different terrain easily (i.e. gravel, dirt/mud, large gaps in sidewalks, etc.) I understand that maybe I am missing indicators, but Spence feels good when walking and does not struggle with what I carry (no limping, muscle fatigue, immediate swelling or pain). There are some days when the load is much lighter than others or the distance I need to walk with is is shorter than others.
Whenever I am not at work I am resting and usually icing. Except for the 5 lunges I attempted today/last evening (depending on when this is read), I have done no additional exercise. I also limit walking in the evenings and weekends (for the most part).
Any pain that I do have is generally reduced/eliminated by Tylenol, except for some *nervy* type pain that may be present one evening and then not recur for another week or two. The pain does present in different locations, and is not severe or intense. More just on the ouchy scale.
I cannot delay the certification as I am responsible for teaching it to the agencies offices in the northeast corner of PA. There is nobody else in the sites that I work who is trained to do so. Fortunately I only need to teach the restraint portion a couple of times a year, and can get someone to come up and assist me. However I do need to teach the escapes and evasions several times a month. I have been doing so, and have limited how much I actually demonstrate, even though these moves are not physically rigorous. In order to continue to be able to teach these less physical components which involve not holding the other person, I need to pass the recertification for everything.
Hopefully this information is some of what you are looking for and that it is not too difficult to follow and understand. I know that sometimes I do not explain things very well.
United States
For the most part, I have managed fairly well even with his occasional attempts to show off. However, I did ask for advice because I wanted to make sure that I would not unintentionally go overboard. 
