| | | | | All patients are given a set of home exercises to do |
| Knee Replacement Rehabilitation | | | | between supervised physical therapy sessions, and |
| | | | | the home exercises make up an important part of the |
| Making the best of your new knee | | | | recovery process. However, supervised |
| Good physiotherapy is essential to gain the best | | | | therapy--which is best done in an outpatient physical |
| potential from your new knee.... | | | | therapy studio--is extremely helpful.... |
| | | | | |
| Before Your Operation | | | | Usual response |
| You will be seen by a physiotherapist before your | | | | No two patients are alike, and recovery varies |
| operation To assess your pre-operative level of | | | | somewhat based on the complexity of the knee |
| activity, joint movement and muscle strength. To | | | | reconstruction, and the patient’s health, fitness, and |
| discuss post operative routine and explain the | | | | level of motivation. |
| recovery process so that you are prepared for the | | | | Most people walk using crutches or a walker for 3-4 |
| various stages you will go through... | | | | weeks, then use a cane for about 2-3 more weeks; |
| | | | | sometime between one and two months |
| In Hospital | | | | post-operatively, most patients are able to walk |
| Immediately after your operation you may wake up to | | | | without assistive devices.... |
| find your leg on a CPM (continuous passive | | | | |
| movement) machine, this may be left on overnight. | | | | Risks |
| Most people find this quite comfortable and are able to | | | | This is a safe rehabilitation program with little risk... |
| sleep without a problem. | | | | |
| The machine moves the leg very slowly and prevents | | | | Long-term patient limitations |
| the knee becoming too swollen or stiff and it also helps | | | | The goal of total knee replacement is to return |
| to get your circulation moving again... | | | | patients to a high level of function without knee pain. |
| | | | | We offer some common-sense guidelines for athletic, |
| Crutches | | | | leisure, and workplace activities: |
| Initially you may walk with a frame but you will quickly | | | | Recommended : - |
| progress to crutches when you have adequate | | | | - Swimming |
| balance and muscle control. | | | | - Water aerobics |
| Crutch Sequence: Crutch, Operated Leg, Un-operated | | | | - Cross-country skiing or Nordic Track |
| Leg At this stage it is important not to overdo things | | | | - Cycling or stationary bike |
| and cause the knee to swell, swelling makes knee | | | | - Golf |
| bending more difficult and prevents the thigh muscle | | | | - Dancing |
| working efficiently. Exercises are designed to gradually | | | | - Sedentary occupations (desk work) |
| increase bend (mobility exercises) and to strengthen | | | | |
| muscles (strengthening exercises) and you will be | | | | Permitted : - |
| expected to regularly do both types.... | | | | - Hiking |
| | | | | - Gentle doubles tennis |
| Going Home | | | | - Gentle downhill skiing |
| The average length of stay following a total knee | | | | - Light labor (jobs that involve driving, walking or |
| replacement is 4 days, but can vary by 1-2 days either | | | | standing but not heavy lifting) |
| way depending on the individual. If you have a | | | | |
| unicompartmental replacement then your stay could be | | | | Not recommended : - |
| as short as 4-5 days. Whichever operation you have, | | | | - Jogging or running |
| you will be walking independently with crutches or | | | | - Impact exercises |
| sticks, able to safely negotiate stairs and have at least | | | | - Sports that require twisting/pivoting (aggressive |
| 90 degrees of knee bend before you are discharged... | | | | tennis, basketball, racquetball) |
| | | | | - Contact sports |
| At Home | | | | - Heavy labor |
| Initially it is sensible for you to follow a similar daily | | | | |
| routine to that in hospital. Rest is still important; length of | | | | Since the joint replacement includes a bearing surface, |
| time spent on your feet and distance walked needs to | | | | which potentially can wear, walking or running for |
| be increased gradually. If, at the end of the day, your | | | | fitness are not recommended. Some patients feel well |
| knee feels tight, warm or particularly achy, this is nature | | | | enough to do this, and so need to exercise judgment in |
| telling you that you have perhaps pushed things too | | | | order to prolong the life-span of the implant materials. |
| much. No harm done but reduce activity slightly to let | | | | Swimming, water exercises, cycling and cross country |
| the knee settle and then build up again slowly.... | | | | skiing (and machines simulating it, like Nordic Track) can |
| | | | | provide a high level of cardiovascular and muscular |
| Hydrotherapy | | | | fitness without excessive wear on the prosthetic joint |
| Some patients get the opportunity to go in the pool | | | | materials..... |
| whilst in hospital, however this is dependant on various | | | | |
| factors such as timing; swelling in the knee and staff | | | | |
| availability. Bring your swimsuit into hospital so that you | | | | |
| can take advantage if the opportunity arises. Failing | | | | Please log on to : |
| this, patients who come to Droitwich for their | | | | Send your query : Get a Quote |
| post-operative physio will go in the pool during weeks | | | | |
| 2 and 3 or as appropriate.... | | | | We Care Core Values |
| | | | | We have a very simple business model that keeps |
| Physical therapy | | | | you as the centre. |
| Following hospital discharge (or discharge from | | | | Having the industry’s most elaborate and exclusive |
| inpatient rehabilitation), patients who undergo total knee | | | | Patient Care and Clinical Coordination teams stationed |
| replacement will participate in either home physical | | | | at each partner hospital, we provide you the |
| therapy or outpatient physical therapy at a location | | | | smoothest and seamless care ever imagined. With a |
| close to home... | | | | ratio of one Patient Care Manager to five patients our |
| | | | | patient care standards are unmatched across the sub |
| How can rehabilitation be done at home ? | | | | continent. |