A knee replacement is a procedure or treatment that a doctor or specialist recommends to regain mobility. Knee replacement surgery is usually the last option after all other methods such as steroid injections or physiotherapy have failed to improve mobility. After the knee replacement, it may take up to three months to carry out most activities and close to one year to fully recover all your strength. Here are four tips for recovery after a knee replacement.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an important key area in the recovery process because it will restore your quality of life. It helps individuals to manage the pain successfully. Your muscles get stronger when doing exercises recommended by your physical therapist. Walking is the best physical therapy you can give yourself. You can walk in the neighborhood or the park. You can also join therapy in hospitals for more physical therapy treatment programs. Make sure you find a professional to help you with your physical therapy. They will know the proper way to help you recover.
Lymphedema Therapy
This kind of therapy is provided by trained personnel who are trained to treat swelling and prevent infections. Lymphedema therapy will offer a non-invasive, reliable, and safe approach that helps to reduce the risk of disability, illness, or other severe conditions during the recovery process. Exercises in this therapy aim to contract muscles in the leg to move excess fluid to other parts of the body.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy helps individuals renew their sense of purpose to increase their independence and satisfaction in life. An occupational therapist helps individuals overcome the challenges they might face when doing essential day-to-day activities such as work, self-care, and leisure. You can find occupational therapists working in social care services, voluntary organizations, education, health organizations, housing, or independent practitioners.
Patience
Patience is the most important virtue to have during recovery. Most patients are eager to know when they will regain full mobility and go to work. Those working in offices and sitting most of the time may return to work in two to four weeks, while those who work on their feet most of the time may need close to six weeks to do so. Please don’t push yourself too hard as it may be your setback by demotivating you.
Gentle Movement
If you are someone who likes to be active, make sure you don’t do too much too soon. Don’t get back to your normal workout routine for a while after your surgery. Tak time to heal and ease into being active again by doing gentle movements. For example, you can book a restorative yoga class to start doing stretches again. After that, you can start going on short walks to strengthen your leg muscles again.
Knee replacement is a costly affair both in terms of time and money. However, the result is all we are waiting for and hoping to be good. To get there, you need to consider the above tips, including physical therapy, lymphedema therapy, occupational therapy, and patience.
