Excellent Knee Replacement Recovery Tips

Medically known as arthroplasty, a knee replacement is a surgical procedure that replaces a damaged knee with an artificial one made of plastic, metal, or polymer. The procedure helps alleviate pain and restore knee function and mobility for patients with osteoarthritis and other conditions. The first knee replacement surgery was performed in 1968, and over 600,000 of these surgeries are now performed each year. A knee replacement may be appropriate for patients who struggle with walking and getting out of chairs. It is also appropriate for individuals with knee deformities and severe knee pain. When considering surgery, orthopedic specialists will do x-rays and imaging studies to visualize the specific damage to the knee and formulate a plan for which type of knee replacement may be most effective for the patient. The orthopedist will also physically examine the patient's knee, feeling for tenderness and evaluating range of motion. Doctors may ask overweight patients to lose weight before the operation so they can have a smoother recovery. Knee replacements are typically performed with general anesthesia, and they may also be done using spinal anesthesia.
Recovery from knee replacement can be a lengthy process. It is often done in stages, and some patients may need a full year before they feel completely recovered. The steps discussed below are general parts of the recovery process for all knee replacement patients.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a crucial portion of the recovery process and is arguably the most important component of recovery. Physical therapy enables the new knee and the muscles around it to gain the strength, flexibility, and range of motion necessary for daily tasks such as standing, walking, and driving. Patient's adherence to the therapy recommendations often determines the quality of life they have following this procedure. While patients who engage in rigorous and regular therapy sessions often have no difficulty walking on their own, individuals who are not as diligent with their therapy sessions may still need to use a cane or walker following the operation.

Typically, initial therapy may begin as early as the day of the surgery and may involve the patient simply standing up after the procedure. After patients are discharged from the hospital, they usually continue their therapy at an inpatient rehabilitation facility. Patients can also choose to have therapy at home with a licensed physical therapist who makes home visits. Exercises usually include a combination of standing, walking, riding a stationary bike, stretching using an elastic band, and passive motion. During passive motion exercises, the physical therapist will move the knee in various directions to increase range of motion. Patients will be shown a series of daily exercises to complete at home outside of their therapy sessions.