Ryan-Smith, Physical Therapist
If you’ve had a total joint replacement, it doesn’t mean that you can no longer be physically active. At Tulsa Spine and Rehab, we see many patients that have undergone total joint replacement procedures. They usually fit in one of three common categories: total knee, total hip, and total shoulder. Total shoulder replacements are less common and fairly challenging to deal with.
Immediately after surgery, patients will get help in the hospital to regain mobility. During this time, they will learn some basic recovery exercises to perform at home. After that, the patient’s physician should make a referral to a physical therapist that will help prevent the joint from becoming stiff. If the joint isn’t kept active, the patient could develop a contracture (Wikipedia), which is tightening of soft tissue.
Keeping the joint exercised also helps relieve pain and allows the patient to regain comfort during physical activity. Joint replacements are significant procedures in which the end of the bone is cut and a prosthetic piece is attached (with cement in most cases). This procedure often results in soft tissue inflammation and soreness. Surrounding muscles will reflexively shut down due to the trauma, so physical therapy helps to get the muscles reactivated and back in action.
In terms of rehabilitation, the time frame for recovery is three days/three weeks/three months. The first three days involves getting anesthesia out of the system. The three weeks after that involve getting the body re-accustomed to movement. Finally, it usually takes around three months of in-house physical therapy for patients to get their muscles reactivated, increase endurance, and develop an understanding of long-term habits for physical activity.
Ultimately, patients need to understand the full scope of what they are getting into. It usually takes 9 to 12 months for full recovery from a surgery of this nature, simply because it takes along time for the bone to heal.
Depending on the type of surgery, there are precautions that will be given to patients during the recovery process. For instance, in certain hip procedures there are movements that the patientshould not perform until the soft tissues heal. The biggest mistake that most patients makewhich results in a sub-optimal outcome is not paying attention to excessive swelling. Patients will usually undergo to much or too little exercise on the joint, inhibiting proper recovery.
Not moving the joint enough will cause stiffness and swelling due to fluid retention. Excessive movement will cause serious and potentially chronic swelling that results in long-term problems. Men are more prone to this problem than women because they tend not to listen to signals their body is giving them. Swelling is one of the strongest indicators that the joint is undergoing unnecessary stress.
Whether you need joint replacement, rehabilitation, physical therapy, or chiropractic services, the team at Tulsa Spine and Rehab has specialists in each of these areas to address your needs in a comprehensive and effective manner. Contact us today at (918) 743-3737.
If you have a question for any of the specialists at Tulsa Spine and Rehab, you can reach us through the contact tab or call us at (918) 743-3737.
Listen to the podcast of this post here:
Podcast: Play in new window
