Joint pain? We can sometimes take our health for granted. Remember when you did not have joint pain? Degenerative Joint Disease/Arthritis, injuries and overuse of muscles and joints can cause discomfort and limit mobility. This joint pain can be progressive and may not “get better on its own”. The joint pain may contribute to pain with standing & walking as well as climbing stairs & even bathing. When conventional (non-surgical) treatments such as heat, ice and medications are no longer working a joint replacement may be recommended. In this procedure, an orthopedic surgeon replaces the original joint with a prosthesis (artificial joint) made of metal or high-quality plastic. In this case, you may be asking yourself “Joint Pain: Is Surgery Needed? What About Physical Therapy?” The team at Back In Motion, Sarasota Physical Therapy wants to optimize your recovery after joint replacement surgery.
Knee replacement surgery tends to be common, since the knee is a weight-bearing joint. This procedure is called Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) & is also known as a Total Knee Replacement (TKR). Knee replacements were initially performed late in the 1960’s and as you can probably imagine, have come a long way since then. Surgeons are now able to choose from a wide variety of knee replacements to suit the patient’s overall health, age, weight, and activity level. See some statistics on joint replacements here: Hip and Knee Pain Causes
Joint pain: Is surgery needed? What about Physical Therapy? An important goal after surgery is gradual, progressive mobility of the new joint. Our team of Physical Therapists at Back In Motion, Sarasota Physical Therapy will create a treatment plan to improve motion and regain strength in a controlled manner. We will use state of the art equipment and the latest methods of hands on Physical Therapy. You will ALWAYS be treated one on one and NEVER be put on a stationary bike or other piece of “gym” equipment while the Physical Therapist leaves you to attend to something else. When you are at Back In Motion Sarasota Physical Therapy, we understand that you are the reason we are here and you will have individualized care to get you better quicker. You as our client will also be advised about which positions to avoid, in an effort to protect the joint while it is healing. Physical therapy is a safe, effective treatment option and will help with your recovery after joint replacement surgery.
Recovery After Joint Replacement Surgery
What about Physical Therapy BEFORE the procedure to optimize your recovery after joint replacement surgery. It’s normal to have concerns before any surgery. After all, you want to return to an active lifestyle as quickly as possible. This is exactly where physical therapy can help. Your physical therapist & your medical doctor will encourage you to stay as active as possible prior to the surgery. We will teach you the safe and effective way to keep the muscles and joints to be flexible and strong above and below the joint that is causing you problems. All this is done in a pain free fashion & will minimize atrophy or “shrinkage” of muscle and speed up recovery after joint replacement surgery.
Don’t be afraid to ask a family member, friend, or to pay a caregiver to help with your recovery after the joint replacement surgery. Our team of physical therapists at Back In Motion Sarasota Physical Therapy will involve these individuals in the process of recovery after joint replacement surgery. With the correct team of health care professionals at your side, you will recover and get back to the things you love to do such as shop, play tennis, play golf or just take that evening walk outside in beautiful Sarasota, Florida!! We at Back In Motion Sarasota Physical Therapy specialize in Joint Pain and recovery after joint replacement surgery. Don’t be fooled into going to a physical therapy clinic in Sarasota and seeing a physical therapist who specializes in the shoulder for example if you are there for recovery after joint replacement surgery of the knee!!
Back In Motion Sarasota Physical Therapy will prescribe gentle yet progressive stretching & flexibility exercises to restore Range of Motion (ROM) to aid in recovery after joint replacement surgery. You may initially be asked to walk, possibly with crutches, a walker, or a cane for additional support, but your Physical Therapist will wean you off from that as appropriate. If you need a cane or walker, don’t worry we have them in stock at Back In Motion Sarasota Physical Therapy. We will adjust if for you and teach you how to use it the correct way. It’s normal to experience a little pain and discomfort initially. Don’t worry. Your physical therapist will make sure you don’t push yourself too much. All of our clients are taught a home exercise program with easy to read computer generated words and pictures with the overall goal to strengthen and make more flexible your knee all while minimizing associated discomfort. These measures will promote a rapid and successful recovery after joint replacement surgery.
Your Physical Therapist In Sarasota: Your Choice To Pick Who You Want!
Your physical therapist is a critical member of your healthcare team during the recovery process. It is ALWAYS the choice of the client to pick which outpatient physical therapy clinic to attend. Do your research…make sure you are getting someone qualified and experienced in your condition. Not all Physical Therapists in Sarasota, Florida are created equal. Since each client has specific needs, the physical therapist at Back In Motion Sarasota Physical Therapy will tailor your exercises and advise you about the do’s and just as importantly the don’ts based on the guidelines established by the surgeon. This will enable you to optimize your recovery after joint replacement surgery. You will regain freedom, restore mobility, and get back to doing the things you love to do. You will finally enjoy an active pain-free lifestyle.
If you or someone you know is considering (or has already had) joint replacement surgery, physical therapy can help. Even is the surgery was several months or years ago, do not delay. Call us at (941)-925-2700 to find out more about how we can help. We’ll do everything we can to get you back on your feet as quickly as possible. Don’t let a joint replacement surgery or joint pain hold you back from a normal pain-free lifestyle. We are preferred providers for Medicare in Sarasota, Florida and accept most other insurances in-network. Click here to see the insurances we accept: Insurance and Prices
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