Finding Relief After Total Hip or Knee Replacements

Finding Relief After Total Hip or Knee Replacements

Hip and knee replacements are among the most common surgeries in the United States. Every year, surgeons perform around 800,000 knee replacements and 450,000 hip replacements — and that number is expected to grow as the population ages.

But the surgeries themselves don’t show the entire picture. While they can offer lasting relief for people suffering from osteoarthritis, they also require extensive rehabilitation to ensure success.

Most people can expect to spend six months to a year restoring the strength and mobility in their lower body. If you skip out on post-surgical physical therapy, especially immediately after your procedure, you might continue to struggle with joint pain and restrictions in your range of motion.

Fortunately, physical therapy at Ellis Physical Therapy can help see you through your recovery and rehabilitation.

Start Your Recovery Journey Today

Our Patients Get Great Results

“They are so wonderful to work with <3 I’ve worked with Tyler, Tonya & Jason so far and they are so nice, patient, kind and they are fantastic at their job! My son goes to Ellis as well and loves it! They’ve helped me with my issues so much and I feel so much better when I leave. The receptionists are super kind and I have never had an issue with scheduling or billing. Thanks Ellis PT you all rock!!!”

– A.M.

Share Your Story

Madeline’s Story: Finding the Trail Again

When Madeline underwent a total hip replacement at the age of 65, she had one goal in mind: to hike again. 

Madeline knew that, to achieve her goal, she would need to take her post-surgical physical therapy very seriously. She began physical therapy as soon as she was cleared by her surgeon, three days after her procedure. Her PT guided her through gentle mobility exercises and helped her move around the room with her walker. 

We also helped Madeline manage her initial pain levels with joint mobilizations, soft tissue manipulation, and other manual therapy techniques. In addition to helping with pain, these techniques can reduce the development of scar tissue, which can cause long-term pain issues.

It wasn’t long before Madeline began more intensive physical therapy. At her first appointment, she let her therapist know her dream of taking up hiking again, and they worked together to help Madeline achieve her goal.

Here’s what Madeline’s post-surgical therapy involved:

Frank’s Story: Starting Early for Lasting Relief

Frank didn’t have a clearly defined physical goal when he underwent his total knee replacement at age 78. He’d never been particularly active, and his knee pain only made him more sedentary. 

To help ensure Frank had the best possible outcomes, we actually started his physical therapy before he even went into surgery. Research shows that pre-surgical physical therapy (“prehab”) gives you a solid foundation for rehabilitation. So we set Frank up for success with a six-week prehab program that included the following:

Frank had initially been nervous about his surgery, but his prehab program helped build his confidence and gave him a taste of what to expect from his post-surgical rehabilitation. In fact, he was pleased to learn that his early exercises were very similar to those he had done during prehab!

Frank’s rehabilitation proceeded similarly to Madeline’s, even though he wasn’t working toward a specific goal. We worked with him to manage his pain and slowly began mobilizing his knee. As his range of motion improved, we began incorporating strengthening exercises and functional training activities so he could perform day-to-day tasks.

Physical therapy was a lot of work for Frank, but it paid off in the end: he no longer struggled with joint pain, and he was far more active and mobile than he’d been in years.

Recipe of the Month: Strawberry Chocolate Yogurt Parfaits

Ingredients:

• 2 cups plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1–2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional, to taste)
• 1½ cups fresh strawberries, chopped into heart shapes
• ¼ cup dark chocolate chips or shaved dark chocolate
• ½ cup granola (low-sugar if possible)

Instructions:

1. Mix yogurt with honey or maple syrup if you want it sweeter.
2. Layer yogurt, strawberries, and granola in clear cups or jars.
3. Sprinkle dark chocolate between layers and on top.
4. Repeat layers and finish with strawberries and a few chocolate shavings.
5. Serve immediately or chill for 15–20 minutes.

Can I Avoid a Total Hip or Knee Replacement?

No one wants to undergo surgery. It’s often expensive, and it can bring with it a host of risks and complications. So, if you’re struggling with hip or knee osteoarthritis, you might be wondering — can I skip surgery altogether?

The short answer? It’s very possible!

Osteoarthritis has no cure. However, you canslow its progression by staying active and living a generally healthy lifestyle. In fact, surgeons won’t actually perform a total joint replacement until they’ve seen that non-invasive treatments — such as physical therapy — aren’t effectively managing the condition.

As with most degenerative conditions, the earlier you start, the better. If you already have an OA diagnosis, the Ellis Physical Therapy physical therapists can work with you to develop a customized management program that might include the following: