Finding Relief After Total Hip or Knee Replacements

Hip and knee replacements are among the most common surgeries in the United States. Every year, surgeons perform around 800,000 knee replacements and 450,000 hip replacements — and that number is expected to grow as the population ages.

But the surgeries themselves don’t show the entire picture. While they can offer lasting relief for people suffering from osteoarthritis, they also require extensive rehabilitation to ensure success.

Most people can expect to spend six months to a year restoring the strength and mobility in their lower body. If you skip out on post-surgical physical therapy, especially immediately after your procedure, you might continue to struggle with joint pain and restrictions in your range of motion.

Fortunately, physical therapy at IMG Physical Therapy can help see you through your recovery and rehabilitation.

Madeline’s Story: Finding the Trail Again

When Madeline underwent a total hip replacement at the age of 65, she had one goal in mind: to hike again.

Madeline knew that, to achieve her goal, she would need to take her post-surgical physical therapy very seriously. She began physical therapy as soon as she was cleared by her surgeon, three days after her procedure. Her PT guided her through gentle mobility exercises and helped her move around the room with her walker.

We also helped Madeline manage her initial pain levels with joint mobilizations, soft tissue manipulation, and other manual therapy techniques. In addition to helping with pain, these techniques can reduce the development of scar tissue, which can cause long-term pain issues.

It wasn’t long before Madeline began more intensive physical therapy. At her first appointment, she let her therapist know her dream of taking up hiking again, and they worked together to help Madeline achieve her goal.

Here’s what Madeline’s post-surgical therapy involved:

• Step 1: Improving her hip’s range of motion through targeted stretches and range-of-motion exercises.
• Step 2: Building strength in the muscles surrounding and supporting her hip, helping stabilize her new joint.
• Step 3: Activity-focused training to help Madeline restore her balance and ability to walk, climb stairs, and perform other movements crucial in daily life. As Madeline improved, her therapist began focusing on exercises that emulated hiking (such as walking up an incline) so Madeline could hit the trails again.
• Step 4: A hike with her new hip. After completing her physical therapy, Madeline’s PT cleared her for a gentle, three-mile hike — and Madeline celebrated every step!

Frank’s Story: Starting Early for Lasting Relief

Frank didn’t have a clearly defined physical goal when he underwent his total knee replacement at age 78. He’d never been particularly active, and his knee pain only made him more sedentary.

To help ensure Frank had the best possible outcomes, we actually started his physical therapy before he even went into surgery. Research shows that pre-surgical physical therapy (“prehab”) gives you a solid foundation for rehabilitation. So we set Frank up for success with a six-week prehab program that included the following:

• General fitness strategies to ensure he was in good health for his procedure
• Exercises to improve the strength and mobility of his knee joint
• Practice using a walker

Frank had initially been nervous about his surgery, but his prehab program helped build his confidence and gave him a taste of what to expect from his post-surgical rehabilitation. In fact, he was pleased to learn that his early exercises were very similar to those he had done during prehab!

Frank’s rehabilitation proceeded similarly to Madeline’s, even though he wasn’t working toward a specific goal. We worked with him to manage his pain and slowly began mobilizing his knee. As his range of motion improved, we began incorporating strengthening exercises and functional training activities so he could perform day-to-day tasks.

Physical therapy was a lot of work for Frank, but it paid off in the end: he no longer struggled with joint pain, and he was far more active and mobile than he’d been in years.

Sources: https://rheumatology.org/patients/joint-replacement-surgery
https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-total-knee-replacement
https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-total-hip-replacement-arthroplasty
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S187706572200077X

A Note from Eric

Hello All,

I hope that everyone has been having a great summer season. August is usually a great month to go outside and soak up a lot of that summer heat and sun, just make sure that you stay well-hydrated while enjoying all of the fun outdoor summer activities. While some of you may want to soak up the last moments of summer, others may be ready for a little bit cooler temperatures and a reprieve from the hot summer temperatures. Some people refer to this as the “dog days” of summer, where it feels like the mercury will never go below 95 degrees.

Having a new knee replacement or hip replacement surgery can feel like the dog days of summer, like it will never end. The hot, inflamed joint, the increased swelling and perspiration, and the misery of trying to get through those first few weeks following a total knee or hip replacement surgery can be downright miserable. As the saying goes, “This too shall pass.” The secret to getting through these difficult surgeries is to try to stay positive, listen to your surgeon and physical therapist, and do as instructed both at home and during your therapy sessions. The work that you do early on during those most difficult days, especially in the first few weeks, will pay great dividends if you stick with it and do not give up. Also, rely on your friends/family for help, and be patient with yourself and allow your body time to heal. It takes time to heal after these traumatic surgeries on your body. Everyone heals at a different rate, so be patient and look for the small victories each day as you go through your rehab process.

Knee replacements are very difficult, but with a good surgeon, physical therapist, and support system, you can get through it and meet your goals for getting your life back. On a personal note, my dad had total knee replacement surgery a few years ago, and I was his physical therapist. He did very well, but I am sure he would tell you it was tough in the beginning; those first 4 weeks can be brutal. He stuck with his program, with the help and encouragement from my mother, and did his stretches and strengthening exercises, as well as making sure his knee stayed mobile. He would ice his knee and walk on a regular basis. He utilized the cold laser, which we have in our office, to help speed up his healing and tissue repair, which made a big difference. By doing these things, he got full mobility back in his knee and greatly improved his strength and walking, while minimizing the swelling. After about 3 months, he was even able to walk in a 5K race!

Give us a call today and discuss any questions or concerns you have about a total hip or knee replacement surgery. We will be glad to talk to you, and when you need us following these difficult surgeries, help you navigate through the rehab process, and come out on the other side having met your goals to get back to your normal function and daily activities. Remember, you have the freedom to go to whichever therapist you want after surgery; you do not have to use the surgeon’s therapist at their office.

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