Lake Regional Health System | Thrive | Spring 2020

lakeregional.com 5 So you’ve decided to have a knee or hip joint replaced. Good for you! Joint replacement surgery can help you get around better with less pain. That’s a big deal. But what happens after your surgery is also pretty important. Physical therapy is a key part of recovery after joint surgery. It can help your new joint get stronger. And it can help you move your new joint better. Physical therapy usually starts in the hospital. Your physical therapist will begin with gentle exercises you can do in bed. You’ll learn to sit up, stand and walk short distances with a walker or crutches. Soon you’ll learn to walk farther and climb a few stairs. These exercises help you move your new joint safely. And they keep blood moving through your joints to promote healing. After your hospital stay, you might spend a week or so in a short-term rehabilitation facility, such as the Lake Regional Skilled Nursing Facility, or you might go home immediately and use home health services, such as Lake Regional Home Health. You will continue physical therapy either way, and eventually you will be ready for outpatient visits at a rehab therapy clinic — Lake Regional has convenient locations in Camdenton, Eldon, Lake Ozark, Laurie and Osage Beach. As your therapy continues, it will focus on helping you reach specific goals, such as going back to work or returning to a sport you enjoy. Sources: American Physical Therapy Association; Arthritis Foundation; National Institutes of Health LEAVE PAIN BEHIND Put your knee in the hands of one of our skilled orthopedic surgeons. Call 573-302-3990 to make an appointment in Osage Beach or Lebanon. Call 573-346-3700 for an appointment in Camdenton. 3 Am I ready to commit to recovery? Removing a natural knee and replacing it with artificial parts is a major surgery. For better healing, you may need to stop smoking and lose weight beforehand. And after- ward you’ll need physical therapy to regain muscle strength, range of motion and good mobility. But keep your eyes on the prize: This surgery dramati- cally eases pain for most people. “Most people who choose knee replacement and then follow their doctor’s orders for recovery are amazed at how they can once again do the things they want to do,” Dr. Morris says. “It’s life-changing to get that relief.” Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; Arthritis Foundation; National Institutes of Health SEE FOR YOURSELF Go to lakeregional.com/knees to find videos about what to expect with knee replacement. PHYSICAL THERAPY Why you need it after joint surgery