Knee replacement surgery is a medical procedure where a damaged knee joint is replaced with an artificial joint, usually made of metal or plastic. It’s often recommended for people who experience severe pain or loss of mobility due to conditions like:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Severe injury
Over time, the cartilage in the knee can wear down, making doing everyday activities incredibly painful. Knee replacement surgery can significantly improve your quality of life by reducing pain and increasing mobility.
Knee replacement surgeries are the most commonly replaced joint, with around 800,000 knee replacement surgeries performed each year. Recovery from surgery is just as important as the surgery itself. This is where physical therapy comes into play. After knee replacement surgery, physical therapy is critical for helping patients regain strength, flexibility and mobility.
7 benefits of physical therapy after knee replacement surgery
For a successful recovery after a knee replacement surgery, it’s essential to receive physical therapy treatment. One of the main goals of postsurgery physical therapy is to help patients get back on their feet as soon as possible. After surgery, your knee joint will be stiff, swollen and weak. Physical therapy helps you address these issues, allowing you to regain range of motion in your knee, as well as restoring strength and stability. Here are seven key benefits of physical therapy after knee replacement surgery:
- Improve mobility — Physical therapy can help restore movement in the knee joint. This can allow you to walk, bend and even climb stairs more comfortably. As your body heals, your physical therapist will gradually introduce more challenging exercises to improve mobility further.
- Manage pain — While your knee replacement surgery can help reduce your long-term pain, there will be some postsurgery discomfort. Your physical therapist can help you manage this pain through exercises and techniques that help reduce swelling and stiffness.
- Strengthen muscles — The muscles around your knee can become weak after surgery, especially if you spend a lot of time resting. Strengthening exercises help rebuild these muscles, which are essential for supporting your new joint and preventing future injuries.
- Prevent complications — Physical therapy can help prevent complications such as blood clots, scar tissue buildup or knee stiffness. Your physical therapist will guide you through exercises and movements that promote circulation and keep your knee joint from becoming too tight.
- Recover faster — Regular physical therapy can help speed up your recovery time. Under the experienced guidance of your physical therapists, you may be able to return to your normal activities sooner, like:
- Walking without assistance
- Driving
- Doing your favorite hobbies
- Build confidence — After knee replacement surgery, you may feel nervous about using your new joint. Your physical therapist can help build your confidence by showing you how to move effectively and safely. This includes developing personalized strategies for managing your daily activities and getting around more easily using assistive devices or modifications.
- Address concerns — Your physical therapist is skilled at answering questions and addressing concerns you may have related to your recovery process. They can explain what to expect during different stages of healing, including:
- Pain levels
- Swelling
- Mobility limitations
Physical therapy techniques for knee replacement surgery recovery
Your physical therapist will use a variety of techniques to help you recover from your knee replacement surgery. Each of these techniques is tailored to meet your individual needs and recovery timeline and may include:
- Graston Technique® — The Graston Technique is a form of manual therapy that uses specialized stainless steel instruments your physical therapist will use to massage and rub the soft tissue around your knee. It’s used to help break up scar tissue and improve mobility in your joint. This technique can help speed up recovery by reducing stiffness and increasing blood flow to the area.
- Manual therapy — Manual therapy is an umbrella term for a variety of hands-on techniques your physical therapist may incorporate into your treatment plan, which includes:
- Soft tissue mobilization — Soft tissue mobilization involves hands-on movements to manipulate the soft tissue to help improve the flexibility and movement of the muscles and tissue around your knee. It can help reduce pain and swelling, making it easier for you to move your knee.
- Joint mobilization — This technique involves your physical therapist gently guiding your knee joint in specific ways to help reduce stiffness and improve range of motion. Joint mobilization can help ensure that your new joint moves smoothly and without restriction.
- Balance and fall prevention — After surgery, you may feel unsteady on your feet, which can increase your risk of falling. Your physical therapist will show you balance exercises to improve your stability and coordination. This is essential to help you move around safely and confidently.
- Range-of-motion exercises — Early during your recovery, range-of-motion exercises help to get your knee moving again. These exercises are designed to gently bend and straighten your knee, gradually increasing the distance your joint can move over time.
- Stretching exercises — Stretching helps prevent tightness and stiffness in the muscles around your knee. Your physical therapist may guide you through different stretches that focus on the quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles to improve flexibility.
- Strengthening exercises — Strengthening exercises are crucial for supporting your new knee joint. Exercises targeting your quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles help you regain the muscle strength necessary for everyday activities. These exercises are usually done using body weight, resistance bands or light weights.
Physical therapy plays an essential role in recovering from knee replacement surgery. It not only helps you regain strength, flexibility and mobility, but it can also help manage pain and prevent complications. By following a customized physical therapy program, you can achieve a smoother recovery.
Experience the benefits of expert physical therapy for knee replacement recovery at Forever Fit
At Forever Fit, we understand that knee replacement surgery can be challenging, but with the right physical therapy program, the journey can be much smoother. Our physical therapy for knee replacement recovery is designed to help patients regain strength, flexibility and mobility while managing pain and preventing complications. We offer personalized treatment plans that cater to your unique needs, ensuring that every patient receives compassionate and comprehensive care. We are committed to guiding you through every step of your recovery, helping you achieve your goals and get back to living your life with confidence.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.