Arthritis in the knees can be debilitating once it progresses to the point where you are not able to put weight through the leg without severe pain. Arthritis stems from repetitive activities like sports and standing on concrete floors for years. The definition of arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness that can worsen with age. The thought of a knee replacement for many people can be scary. Once the pain gets to a point that it hinders your normal daily activities it is likely time for a knee replacement. Physical therapy after a knee replacement is a must if you want to regain full function and get back to certain activities that you may not have been able to do for years. But all things are possible with the correct physical therapy.
After a knee replacement, there are several things that a physical therapist should do in order to help you regain your mobility and decrease the pain associated with the surgery. First, range of motion and strengthening exercises are important throughout the entire process. Second, your therapist must perform manual therapy including passive range of motion and soft tissue mobilization (aka massage). Once you are further into the healing process joint mobilizations (moving the knee cap and other parts of the knee) may be necessary to gain full range of motion following surgery. These forms of physical therapy are not always part of the plan but if these are not performed the progression can be slower than it needs to be, and you may not attain the best mobility and function following your knee replacement.
At Professional Rehabilitation Services, we take pride in providing the best care possible by coming up with individualized plans for each patient. Everyone heals differently and no one should be treated the same. During your initial visit, your physical therapist will talk with you regarding your goals as well as take measurements and assess range of motion and soft tissue restrictions in order to develop the best plan of action. We look at the big picture treating all limitations allowing for a full recovery. If you or someone you know is in need of a knee replacement, we can help you get back to the activities you were able to do before you started having knee pain.
For further information on this or other related topics you can contact Lisa O'Brien, PT, DPT, Cert. DN (Murrells Inlet) (843) 314-3224, Richard DeFalco, DPT, OCS, CSCS, CWcHP (Myrtle Beach) (843) 839-1300, Brian P. Kinmartin PT, DPT, MTC, STC, OCS, CWcHP (Pawleys Island) (843) 235-0200, Richard A. Owens, MPT, OCS, Cert. SMT, CWcHP (Surfside) (843) 831-0163, Jill P. Phelan, PT, DPT, Cert. DN (Conway) (843) 773-3031, Samantha Crisafulli PT, DPT, Cert. DN (Carolina Forest) (843) 282-0440, Zach Daniels PT, DPT, Cert. DN (Market Commons) (843) 213-6338, Taylor Dawley PT, DPT (Longs) (843) 491-0388, Brandon Stanley PT, DPT, Cert. DN (Little River) (843) 281-4222 or visit our website at www.prsrehabservices.com where you can learn more about the company and even download a referral form for your physician to fill out. You can also call and schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
