Recovering from orthopaedic surgery is a critical phase where physiotherapy plays a pivotal role in ensuring a successful rehabilitation.
Your Patient Coordinator is on hand to give you all the information you need.
This guide provides a detailed overview of what patients can expect during their physiotherapy sessions, the timeframes involved, and advice on how to maximise the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process.
Initial Phase: Immediate Post-Surgery
Physiotherapy begins almost immediately after surgery. During the hospital stay, typically lasting from one to three days, patients will start with basic mobilisation exercises. These initial activities are crucial for preventing blood clots, improving circulation, and kick-starting mobility enhancement.
Day 1:
Gentle range-of-motion exercises and short, assisted walks using a walker or crutches are introduced, depending on the patient's pain levels and specific surgical details.
Days 2-3:
The frequency of walking increases, and standing exercises are incorporated, alongside specific movements to activate the muscles around the new joint.
Intermediate Phase: First Six Weeks
After discharge, patients typically attend physiotherapy sessions 2-3 times per week. These sessions focus on:
- Pain Management: Employing techniques such as ice, heat, and electrical stimulation to manage swelling and pain.
- Range of Motion: Exercises designed to increase the flexibility and movement of the new joint.
- Strengthening Exercises: Gradual loading exercises to build the strength of muscles supporting the new joint. For knee replacements, this includes quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteal muscles; for hip replacements, the focus is on the iliopsoas, gluteal, and adductor muscles.
- Gait Training: Ensuring safe and effective walking techniques to promote proper joint mechanics and prevent limping.
Advanced Phase: Six Weeks to Three Months
By the six-week mark, noticeable improvements are typically seen if the rehabilitation plan has been followed diligently. The physiotherapy regime can then include more challenging exercises:
- Endurance Training: Incorporating low-impact activities such as stationary biking or swimming to boost cardiovascular health without overburdening the new joint.
- Advanced Strengthening: Utilising resistance bands or light weights to further enhance muscle strength.
- Functional Training: Adapting exercises to suit daily activities and lifestyle needs, ensuring patients can manage stairs, and movements such as sitting, standing, and bending with ease.
Long-Term Maintenance: Beyond Three Months
Rehabilitation doesn’t conclude at three months; maintaining the function of the new joint is a lifelong commitment:
- Ongoing Conditioning: Regular participation in low-impact exercises like walking, cycling, or aqua aerobics.
- Regular Check-Ups: Routine visits to the physiotherapist to ensure optimal joint mechanics and effective exercise routines.
Maximising Physiotherapy Benefits
To get the most out of physiotherapy sessions, patients are advised to:
Regular attendance and adherence to prescribed home exercises are crucial for success.
Open communication about what is or isn't working helps tailor the therapy more effectively.
Establishing achievable goals aids in maintaining motivation and focus throughout the recovery process.
Understanding and managing pain levels enable progress in exercises without causing harm or undue discomfort.
