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Get moving on
your new joint
Your journey through a successful
joint replacement doesn’t end with
your operation. In many ways, that’s
where it begins.
Physical activity is one of the keys
to a good recovery after joint surgery,
such as an operation to replace a knee
or hip. That’s where physical therapy
comes in.
Among other things, a physical
therapist can show you:
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Gentle movements to extend your
joint’s range of motion and reduce
swelling.
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How to protect your new joint.
You may need a fresh approach to
everyday tasks like walking, climbing
stairs, sitting, standing or lying in bed.
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Specific exercises to strengthen
muscles around your new joint.
Working with a physical therapist
begins very soon after surgery, usually
on the same day. Depending on the
joint replaced, a therapist may need
to show you how to use a walker
or crutches, climb a few stairs, or
otherwise use your artificial joint.
While in the hospital, you’re likely
tomeet daily with a physical therapist.
Once you’re home, your physical
therapist will tailor a treatment program
for you to help you heal. Overall,
recoverymay take several months.
Physical therapy can leave you
sore and tired, especially at first. But
it’s important to stick with it. It’s the
safest, most effective way to get the
most from your new joint.
Sources: American PhysicalTherapy Association; Arthritis
Foundation; National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases
A L I C E H Y D E O R T H O P E D I C S
Going long
on a new knee
GREG
Marshall, the football
coach at Franklin Academy in
Malone, recently decided that he
had endured knee problems long
enough. Years of wear and tear
had taken their toll on his right
knee. He had some pain, but the
biggest problem was the stiffness.
He couldn’t bend his leg and had
no range of motion. “I used to walk
2 miles every day, but it got to the
point where I could hardly walk at
all anymore,” says Marshall.
After years of being told that he
needed a total knee replacement,
Marshall finally decided to have
surgery and made an appointment
to see Dragos Macelaru, MD,
board-certified orthopedic surgeon
at the Alice Hyde Orthopedic and
Rehabilitation Center. “I figured,
why should I travel when I can have
my surgery and rehab done right
here in Malone.”
“I replaced Greg’s
damaged knee joint
with an artificial
joint that is designed
to move much like
a healthy joint,” says
Dr. Macelaru. “The
artificial joint is
made of metal alloys
and high-grade plastics to match the
functions of real bone and cartilage.”
Three and a half weeks out from
surgery, Marshall says his knee
already feels better. He will undergo
about two months of rehabilitation
to increase strength and flexion
in his knee. “I have been very
impressed with everyone, all the
way through this whole process,”
Marshall says. “I always knew
what was coming next; they kept
me informed and answered any
questions I had. I couldn’t be happier
with my results so far.”
Dragos
Macelaru, MD
Alice Hyde’s
Medical Minute
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