Total Joint Arthoplasty

Knee, Hip, Shoulder

Typical complications for the post-surgical joint replacement patient include swelling, motion restriction, pain, scar tissue formation, muscular weakness and atrophy. Recovery time is carefully considered as the tissues enter varied phases of healing following surgery. Appropriate levels of stress should be placed across tissues during each of these phases. Inappropriate stress can prolong these healing phases and lengthen overall treatment time. It therefore becomes essential for rehabilitation to be provided by trained musculoskeletal professionals such as physical therapists.

General Interventions:

• Joint strengthening
• Joint specific mobilization
• Scar tissue mobilization (loosening of stiff scar tissue)
• Inflammation/swelling/pain reduction with use of modalities as needed
• General mobility training
• Problem solving for activities of daily living including: toileting, laundry, dressing
• Gait training (for lower extremity replacements)
• Balance and proprioceptive training

General goals for rehabilitation:

• Return to prior level of function
• Return to independence with activities of daily living
• Complete patient specific goals