Pre- and post-operative physical therapy for hip and knee joint replacement is necessary to reduce the risk of complications, reduce recovery time, and ensure a full recovery.
Patients may need a hip replacement if the following conditions have damaged the hip joint:
Pain in the hip can trigger biomechanical adjustments in the lower body, which may lead to low back pain, knee pain, and ankle pain. Depending on the severity of the patient’s condition, they may need to undergo both hip and knee joint replacement.
Patients undergoing hip and knee joint replacement face the following risks:
Typically, a hip replacement is performed before a knee replacement. After a hip replacement, the patient will generally undergo six weeks of recovery and rehabilitation, which will include regular activity and exercise under the supervision of a physical therapist.
Physical therapy will typically include four components: therapeutic exercise, transfer training, gait training, and directions for performing daily living activities.
Common exercises patients may need to perform include:
Once the patient’s hip has fully recovered, they will undergo knee replacement. The recovery process for a knee replacement is considerably longer than that of a hip replacement. A painful hip can interfere with knee recovery, which is why it’s important to have a fully functional hip before undergoing knee replacement and rehabilitation.
After a knee replacement, patients will undergo physical therapy designed to strengthen their leg, restore knee movement, and teach them to walk using their new knee. Physical therapy may be performed at a rehabilitation facility, the patient’s home, or at an outpatient rehab clinic.
Patients will typically need to do 20-30 minutes of PT two to three times a day. They may also need to walk for 30 minutes, multiple times throughout the day.
Common exercises patients may need to perform include:
Beginning at four weeks after surgery, patients will be ready for endurance training, which will involve using the treadmill, elliptical, and stationary bicycle.
Exercises will be designed to help the patient strengthen the muscles that support the knee, so that they can eventually walk without a walker or crutches. The exercises will gradually become more difficult, and after four weeks, the physical therapist may add light weights to increase the resistance. Patients will need to perform exercises for at least 60 days after surgery.
