The joints of the body can move in some impressive directions and even (in the case of the hips and knees) hold your body weight steady as you stand and move. Unfortunately, their complexity also opens the door for many potential forms of injury and damage. Joint damage can take the form of torn muscles, ruptured ligaments and even dislocations. Chronic joint damage may develop over many years, resulting in worn cartilage, inflamed or deformed joint components, and painful bone-on-bone friction within the joint. For instance, you may suffer from knee, shoulder, or hip arthritis that makes everyday activities impossible. • Reconstructive surgery - Many sports injuries force the need for reconstructive joint surgery. Examples include a torn rotator cuff in the shoulder and ruptured ligaments in the knee. In some procedures, the damaged tissues are reconnected to their anchor points; in others, other tissues (such as tendons) are grafted into place to serve as substitutes. • Total joint replacements - Total joint replacements may be necessary when the original joint has received so much wear and tear that nothing more can be done to treat it. This need often applies to weight-bearing joints that have been subjected to longstanding or abnormal stress. Common examples include total knee replacements and total hip replacements. PHYSICAL THERAPY TECHNIQUES TO GET YOU MOVING AGAIN: As tempting as it might be to stay in bed following your joint surgery, you need to start working on your rehabilitation as soon as you can. Physical therapy offers a safe, professionally-supervised plan for doing just that. Research shows that patients who undergo physical therapy were better at balancing, getting out of chairs, climbing stairs and walking than patients who just received standard post-operative care. Your personalized physical therapy plan may consist of: • Range of motion exercises - Exercises to restore your range of motion are critically important, not only for helping your new joint enjoy optimal function but also for helping to prevent adhesions. • Strength and balance training - Our physical therapy center can prescribe RECUPERATING FRO SPORTS INJURIES & TOTAL JOINT REPLACEMENTS
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