Total Joint Replacement and How Physical Therapy Can Help
Total Joint Replacement and How Physical Therapy Can Help
As you get older, you might need a total joint replacement in your hip or your knee, which will require surgery and physical therapy to help get you back on your feet and moving freely and independently. Physical therapy is an essential medicine that will get your muscles and joints moving and strengthen them as well. If you need this kind of surgery, you may be apprehensive at first, but a good physical therapist you will help you get back on your feet in your normal routine within several months. The process is not overnight, though, and is why sticking to your exercises and listening to your physical therapist is important in your recovery.
You will most likely start physical therapy shortly before the surgery so they can help familiarize you with the exercises you will be doing post surgery and to make sure you know how to perform them properly so you can train on your own as well. A physical therapist will help the patient learn to walk with crutches for after the surgery, will teach them how to adapt at home, and will warn them about possible precautions and movements to avoid. These preparations are common for total joint replacements, such as a total knee replacement (TKR). If you are in good physical shape prior to the surgery, it is better for you as you adjust to physical therapy and the various exercises to help you regain movement and strength.
Your physical therapist will help you practice walking in short distances after surgery, and continuing practice with a cane or crutches. After a surgery such as a total knee replacement, patients will usually go home after two or three days. Patients have to learn safe movements getting into and out of bed, and sitting down and getting up. Physical therapy will continue to train patients with exercises focused on flexibility. Your activity level should be increased after the surgery and moving on to exercises such as stairs with help push your body. One of the main goals by discharge is to have 90 degrees range of motion in the joint that you had the surgery, and will be taking less pain medicine once you leave the hospital.
If you remain on the schedule your physical therapist has given you, and you are practicing out exercise regularly, you will see a dramatic improvement in several weeks after physical therapy, and hopefully, you will be able to walk again on your own if you had a total knee replacement. Further exercises as you progress would be using a stationary bike to stretch your muscles and have further movement, partial joint bending, practice sitting up and standing, and step ups. If you progress enough, you will be encouraged to return to daily activities and regular exercise but avoid collision or impact based activity such as running, skiing, or basketball. Without a physical therapist and proper training, you would really be left to yourself to practice exercises and walking again. You could further injure yourself if you don’t know what you are doing, physical therapists are there to help you and keep you safe.
