FAQs

Home Therapy Exercises After Total Knee Replacement

To see the full benefit of knee replacement, therapy will be a necessary part of the rehabilitation process. Therapy can reduce swelling, decrease pain, improve range-of-motion, build strength, challenge balance and develop endurance. Most patients are able to return to sedentary jobs and activities such as driving within four to six weeks while more demanding occupations may take longer

Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of knee arthritis.

A healthy knee easily bends and straightens because of a smooth, slippery tissue called This substance covers, protects, and cushions the ends of the leg bones that form your knee.

Between your bones, two c-shaped pieces oas “shock absorbers” to cushion your knee joint. Osteoarthritis causes cartilage to wear away.

Knee Conditioning Program

After an injury or surgery, an exercise conditioning program will help you return to daily activities and enjoy a more active, healthy lifestyle. Following a well-structured conditioning program will also help you return to sports and other recreational activities.

This is a general conditioning program that provides a wide range of exercises. To ensure that the program is safe and effective for you, it should be performed under your doctor’s supervision. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist about which exercises will best help you meet your rehabilitation goals.

Total Hip Replacement

The first step when making the decision about hip replacement is to meet with your surgeon to see if you are a candidate for total hip replacement surgery. Your surgeon will take your medical history, perform a physical examination and X-ray your hip. Even if the pain is significant, and the X-rays show advanced arthritis of thejoint, the first line of treatment is nearly always non-operative. This includes weight loss if appropriate, an exercise regimen, medication, injections, or bracing. If the symptoms persist despite these measures, and with corroborating X-rays, then you may consider surgery.

The decision to move forward with surgery is not always straight forward and usually involves a thoughtful conversation with yourself, your loved ones and ultimately your surgeon. The final decision rests on you based on the pain and disability from the arthritis influencing your quality of life and daily activities. Those who decideto proceed with surgery commonly report that their symptoms keep them from participating in activities that are important to them like walking, taking stairs, working, sleeping, putting on socks and shoes, sitting for long periods of time. Surgery is the next option when non-operative treatments have failed. Below are answers tothe most common questions about total hip replacement surgery.