Joint replacement surgery is very common in the UK with more than 250,000 joint replacements being performed in 2018. The majority of surgeries are total hip replacement and total knee replacement, less common are total shoulder replacements which account for about 5% of replacement surgeries. So, if you’re considering having a joint replaced or have had joint replacement surgery you might be wondering how best to recover from these operations? And just how important is physiotherapy?
Research shows that physiotherapy is crucial to optimising your outcome following joint replacement surgery**. You’ll meet yourphysiotherapist the day you have your operation or maybe the next day, depending on the time of your surgery. The physio that sees you in hospital will give you all the guidance you need during your hospital stay and get you on your feet. When you’re back home seeing a physiotherapist has been shown to give you the best chance of rehabilitating fully – after all, when you’ve had your surgery the goal is to get the best outcome.
Here are the top 3 reasons you should see a physiotherapist after joint replacement surgery:
1. Research has shown follow-up physiotherapy after total hip replacement or total knee replacement surgery results in decreased anxiety levels and improved self-confidence*.
2. Elderly people are more likely to be less steady on their feet and therefore require greater support and encouragement to become confident walking again after a hip or knee replacement. Physiotherapists can provide the right strength, balance and movement exercises to help; advise on walking aids and help you to reduce any limp.
3. A physiotherapist can advise on how to progress your exercises and over time exercise helps to reduce your pain. The right exercises and the right amount encourage healing around the new prosthesis, new tissue growth and promotes blood flow and oxygen around the body. Oxygen drives the healing process. All this gives you an improved chance of a successful recovery.
We’re very fortunate at the Physical Health Physiotherapy clinic in Shepperton to have access to a fully-equipped gym with indoor bikes and treadmills and a warm indoor swimming pool that we can use for hydrotherapy and exercise sessions. Some people find exercising in the water after their surgery very beneficial in reducing pain, improving range of movement at the joint and helping them to build up their exercise tolerance.
All our physiotherapists are very experienced in treating and rehabilitating patients after orthopaedic surgery, so you can feel you are in very capable, supportive and skilled hands.
If you’d like to make an appointment with one of our physiotherapists you can book online by clicking the Book a Physio Appointment button below or if you have any question please don’t hesitate to get in touch at mail@physicalhealth.co.uk. We look forward to helping you.
If you're still not sure whether you or a family member needs physiotherapy after total joint replacement surgery why not have a read of this article from the Patient Info website, do you need physiotherapy after joint replacement.
*The effect of rehabilitation education on anxiety in knee replacement patients. Atabaki et al 2020. J Education and Health Promotion.
**Effectiveness of physiotherapy exercise following hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis: a systematic review of clinical trials. Lowe et al, 2009. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.
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