Finding Relief After Total Hip or Knee Replacements

Hip and knee replacements are among the most common surgeries in the United States. Every year, surgeons perform around 800,000 knee replacements and 450,000 hip replacements — and that number is expected to grow as the population ages.

But the surgeries themselves don’t show the entire picture. While they can offer lasting relief for people suffering from osteoarthritis, they also require extensive rehabilitation to ensure success.

Most people can expect to spend six months to a year restoring the strength and mobility in their lower body. If you skip out on post-surgical physical therapy, especially immediately after your procedure, you might continue to struggle with joint pain and restrictions in your range of motion.

Fortunately, physical therapy at Rebound Fitness & Rehabilitation can help see you through your recovery and rehabilitation.

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Patient Success Story

“Been going here for 7+ months and what Greg and his team have done for my daughter is miraculous. Now, perhaps the greatest compliment is that, for him, it was just another day at the job. He knows the body that well. So well, that HE identified her issues with her knees were NOT growing pains–as she had been so lazily diagnosed multiple times before. He analyzed her movement, strength, balance, etc. and decided it may not be a simple diagnosis of Osgood-Schlatter. He found that she had weak hips, worked his theory and the knee problems subsided. Now she’s back on the court (still a work in progress) able to play an entire game. We don’t get here without his attention to detail and elite competency of the human body.” – T.R.

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Video Tips of The Month

Knee CARs

Hip 90-90’s

(this will depend on surgical precautions)

Single Leg Balance & Kicks

Madeline’s Story: Finding the Trail Again

When Madeline underwent a total hip replacement at the age of 65, she had one goal in mind: to hike again. 

Madeline knew that, to achieve her goal, she would need to take her post-surgical physical therapy very seriously. She began physical therapy as soon as she was cleared by her surgeon, three days after her procedure. Her PT guided her through gentle mobility exercises and helped her move around the room with her walker. 

We also helped Madeline manage her initial pain levels with joint mobilizations, soft tissue manipulation, and other manual therapy techniques. In addition to helping with pain, these techniques can reduce the development of scar tissue, which can cause long-term pain issues.

It wasn’t long before Madeline began more intensive physical therapy. At her first appointment, she let her therapist know her dream of taking up hiking again, and they worked together to help Madeline achieve her goal.

Here’s what Madeline’s post-surgical therapy involved:

  • Step 4: A hike with her new hip. After completing her physical therapy, Madeline’s PT cleared her for a gentle, three-mile hike — and Madeline celebrated every step!
  • Step 1: Improving her hip’s range of motion through targeted stretches and range-of-motion exercises
  • Step 2: Building strength in the muscles surrounding and supporting her hip, helping stabilize her new joint.
  • Step 3: Activity-focused training to help Madeline restore her balance and ability to walk, climb stairs, and perform other movements crucial in daily life. As Madeline improved, her therapist began focusing on exercises that emulated hiking (such as walking up an incline) so Madeline could hit the trails again.
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Frank’s Story: Starting Early for Lasting Relief

Frank didn’t have a clearly defined physical goal when he underwent his total knee replacement at age 78. He’d never been particularly active, and his knee pain only made him more sedentary. 

To help ensure Frank had the best possible outcomes, we actually started his physical therapy before he even went into surgery. Research shows that pre-surgical physical therapy (“prehab”) gives you a solid foundation for rehabilitation. So we set Frank up for success with a six-week prehab program that included the following:

  • General fitness strategies to ensure he was in good health for his procedure
  • Exercises to improve the strength and mobility of his knee joint
  • Practice using a walker 

Frank had initially been nervous about his surgery, but his prehab program helped build his confidence and gave him a taste of what to expect from his post-surgical rehabilitation. In fact, he was pleased to learn that his early exercises were very similar to those he had done during prehab!

Frank’s rehabilitation proceeded similarly to Madeline’s, even though he wasn’t working toward a specific goal. We worked with him to manage his pain and slowly began mobilizing his knee. As his range of motion improved, we began incorporating strengthening exercises and functional training activities so he could perform day-to-day tasks.

Physical therapy was a lot of work for Frank, but it paid off in the end: he no longer struggled with joint pain, and he was far more active and mobile than he’d been in years.

Meet Our Team

Greg Cadichon
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Greg Cadichon

ATC, LAT, Founder and Director, Rebound Fitness & Rehabilitation, Inc.

John Brna
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John Brna

MD, Medical advisor and consultant

Christine Strong
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Christine Strong

DPT

We Can Help You Find Relief, Too!

Are you scheduled for a total hip or knee replacement? Don’t underestimate the importance of physical therapy in your rehabilitation. Call Rebound Fitness & Rehabilitation today to learn more about how we can help!

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Green Muffins Recipe — Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour white whole wheat flour or spelt flour 
  • 2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon fine ground sea salt
  • 1 large egg
  • ¾ cup pure maple syrup
  • ¾ cup dairy or non-dairy milk such as almond milk
  • ¼ cup unrefined coconut oil melted
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 5- or 6-ounce bag of fresh baby spinach leaves
  • 2 medium ripe bananas mashed

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with unbleached parchment liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  3. In a blender add egg, maple syrup, milk, oil, vanilla and spinach.  Process until pureed.
  4. Add spinach mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined.  Fold in the mashed banana.
  5. Scoop batter into prepared muffin tin, filling cups about ¾ full.  I like to do this with a large ice cream scooper.  Bake about 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Store at room temperature up to 3 days.  These freeze nicely!

Can I Avoid a Total Hip or Knee Replacement?

No one wants to undergo surgery. It’s often expensive, and it can bring with it a host of risks and complications. So, if you’re struggling with hip or knee osteoarthritis, you might be wondering — can I skip surgery altogether?

The short answer? It’s very possible!

Osteoarthritis has no cure. However, you can slow its progression by staying active and living a generally healthy lifestyle. In fact, surgeons won’t actually perform a total joint replacement until they’ve seen that non-invasive treatments — such as physical therapy — aren’t effectively managing the condition.

As with most degenerative conditions, the earlier you start, the better. If you already have an OA diagnosis, the Rebound Fitness & Rehabilitation physical therapists can work with you to develop a customized management program that might include the following:

  • An aerobic exercise plan based on your interests and abilities
  • Targeted strengthening and stretching exercises to improve joint health
  • Strategies for reducing pressure on your joints
  • Strategies for improving your overall health and wellness

Even if you don’t have a diagnosis, following up on joint pain is essential, especially as you get older. Our physical therapists can let you know if that pain in your knee or hip is due to osteoarthritis or some other cause, such as an injury or muscular imbalance.

Want to learn more about successfully managing osteoarthritis without surgery? Call to speak to our friendly staff today!

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