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How to Stay Strong & Active to Delay Joint Replacements?
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Sep 27 11:25am | Replies (35)Comment receiving replies
I agree with @heyjoe415 - some people may be able to put off surgery for a few years by losing weight, obviously the more poundage (pun intended) the knee has to endure the faster it wears out. Imagine carting an extra 20 lb bag of potatoes every time you walk up and down the stairs. But at some point whether it's due to genetics or old age overuse, if your cartilage wears out and you are bone on bone, your options are surgery or a wheelchair when cortisone or synthetic gel injections quit working. Having a TKR involves your commitment to regularly and fully do the assigned rehab exercises. Just having the surgery and then sitting back and doing nothing will not bring good results. Get in shape before surgery if possible, but for sure, plan to be very serious about rehab exercising.
Replies to "I agree with @heyjoe415 - some people may be able to put off surgery for a..."
Thanks for this comment. You state very plainly that a good recovery from a TKR, or any joint replacement, is primarily dependent on the patient doing the prescribed physical therapy.
I see a lot of people on here who have had bad results. It seems that in many cases they didn't do the prehab or rehab. With a TKR, there is a reason they have a pt take you for a short walk right after surgery. Every day of exercises missed is a chance for scar tissue to form. Once that is in place, pt won't help.
So take the exercises seriously and do them. And hey, let us know how it worked!
Yes. Religiously doing PT is vital. You have to do it even when you don't feel like it.
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Good points. I think getting in shape prior to surgery is critical to recovery. Do the prescribed exercises so that you recover faster and develop good habits.