How to Have a Successful Total Knee Replacement Recovery

One of the most common joint replacement surgery is the total knee replacement (TKR) or total knee Arthroplasty (TKA). Despite numerous operations, every year many people are ill prepared in terms of total knee replacement recovery process. Below we discuss some of the issues relating to the restoration and rehabilitation of these orthopedic surgery.

1. Preoperative Physical Conditioning

knee replacement and recovery actually starts before the operation takes place. Here's why. Successful knee replacement recovery depends on many different factors, but also some of the age of the patients, the number of goods and the general condition of the natural person who, before the surgery. Patients who are in a better condition and the general condition of the rule easier, with the rehab program.

Many orthopedic surgeons recommend patients lose weight and /or strengthen the muscles of the legs, leading to a better preparation for the knee surgery and postoperative rehabilitation.

2. Pain

I will not sugar coat this one. Other than shoulder replacements, knee replacements are among the most painful orthopedic operations, which are finished. I have rehabilitated many joints in my career, and this often gets complaints about the amount and duration of pain through the rehab phase. The good news is that your doctor is in pain medication, if specified, and there are special treatments to reduce the pain and. Once through the first week or two of a total knee replacement recovery will be significantly better.

3. Early Post-operative rehabilitation

It is of crucial importance to the entire knee replacement recovery, when the doctor there. Early rehabilitation is joint stiffness, swelling, improvement of general circulation in the extremities, speed and weight of pain relief. Most patients have a Continuous Passive Motion (CPM)-device on the knee surgery within a few hours after the operation. This mechanical device is automatically passive field of application to their knees, while the patient lies in bed.

4. Progressive and continuous Rehab

Some of the targets for the whole knee replacement recovery to walk down the hallway with a crutch or walker, climb a short set of stairs, in full the knees straight, bend the knee to about 90? or higher, and perform exercises independently at home. If the patient is unable to achieve these goals, within three to six days, more aggressive rehabilitation is necessary, and they can be sent to a rehabilitation center for a week or two or more depending on their medical and social needs.

ultimate goal of knee replacement recovery is to the patient to their prior level of function and living environment. Most total knee replacement surgery have a high success rate in conjunction with early, progressive Rehab intervention.

 

About the author: Richard is a clinical physical therapist. You can learn more about joint replacements by visiting his blog at http://fix-my-health.blogspot.com today!

This article may be reprinted only if the entire article remains intact and unchanged, including the author resource box.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Syner