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← Return to Limited ROM after total knee replacement.
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Limited ROM after total knee replacement.
Joint Replacements | Last Active: May 26, 2019 | Replies (51)Comment receiving replies
@contentandwell : You have mentioned before that you were not happy with one of your PT people. I am not sure what “most” physical therapists do/are supposed to do for TKR rehab. I had worked with my PT before for other issues, and basically he told me what exercises to do, adapting some in order not to trigger my Sciatica. I did the exercises, reported back to him, got another set, and so on. I think I saw him roughly every 7 to 10 days for about 10 weeks, and that was that. Only twice did he very gently stretch and bend my knee to ascertain ROM. Some posts have mentioned doing PT with supervision 2 to 3 times a week, for quite some time. What would be the advantage of that? Do some therapists provide hands-on help with the knee? Thankfully, my knee rehab is done, although I’m still doing daily stretches and strength excercises. I am also currently “enjoying” some more PT exercises to take care of some tendonitis/bursitis in my hip. No big deal, though.
Replies to "@contentandwell : You have mentioned before that you were not happy with one of your PT..."
@ellerbracke - My doctor ordered in-home PT 3 times a week until I was able to drive, then outpatient twice a week for 6 to 8 weeks. I'm doing this with my left TKR now (surgery 1/29) and I did it with my right TKR (done in April 2017). I thought that the PT was one of the key factors in my successful recovery. My therapists give me the exercises, watch me do them, correct my form when needed, and walk with me when we do outside walks. It's kind of like having a personal trainer. I definitely push myself harder when I'm with the therapist vs. the days I'm on my own. I may be especially fortunate to have GREAT therapists, but both of them have anticipated when I could do more, encouraged me to try harder AND reigned me in when I tried to do too much. Last week, I was at 3 weeks post-surgery and I had full knee extension and 128 degrees flexion. My outpatient physical therapist says we are going to work on balance and functional skills along with maintaining the ROM - and getting up to 130 degrees where I was before the surgery. Bottom line is that I would not have been where I am without these caring and skilled physical therapists.
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@ellerbracke My ortho doctor has quite different ideas than most, and his success rate is huge. He advises "gentle PT". The in-home physical therapist had worked with his patients before and seen the successes so was happy to abide by that. The outpatient PT had no idea what to do with me, he was pretty much useless.
JK