Finding Relief After Total Hip or Knee Replacements

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 by replacing worn joint surfaces damaged by 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 rehabilitation, especially immediately after your procedure, you might continue to struggle with joint pain and stiffness or limitations in your range of motion.

Fortunately, the multidisciplinary team at ProClinix Sports Physical Therapy & Chiropractic can help see you through your recovery and rehabilitation with a blend of physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture.

Frank’s Story: Starting Early for Lasting Relief

Frank (not his real name) 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 rehabilitation before he even went into surgery. Research shows that pre-surgical rehab (“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:

• Supportive care, including acupuncture and massage therapy, to help with pain management
• 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.

Rehab 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.