Physical therapy and rehabilitation after orthopedic surgical interventions are very important. Thanks to these interventions, the person can perform daily activities independently as soon as possible. Exercises with a special physiotherapist after the operation accelerate the early recovery process. Mobilization carried out in the early period also prevents physical and mental problems that may occur in the late period. The physical therapy and rehabilitation program to be applied after the operation is at least as important as the surgery. A successful rehabilitation program with home physical therapy increases the effect of the surgery. For this reason, it is important to determine an exercise program and start early in cooperation with the physiotherapist who comes to the house.
Importance of Post-Prosthetic Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
After knee replacement surgery, it is important to give patients physical therapy. It is recommended that they establish a treatment and rehabilitation program. In this way, it is aimed to reduce the complications that may occur after the operation. The program to be created; The design of the prosthesis may vary depending on factors such as surgical technique and bone quality. Therefore, the surgeon and the physical therapy and rehabilitation team should be in contact. In this way, the changes in the patient are transferred regularly. In joint prosthesis surgeries, patients may experience decreased muscle strength, gait disturbances, etc. even after years. such cases can be observed. Therefore, patient follow-up is done for a long time. The physical therapy and rehabilitation process is also very important after the patient goes home. Special physiotherapists accelerate the recovery process of the patient and ensure its continuity with the exercise programs they create. The activity recommendations specially prepared for each patient are different from each other. After physical therapy performed at home, patients' knee joint range of motion and muscle strength increase, pain and edema decrease. The patients' ability to stay in balance and walking functions improve. In this way, the person continues his/her life independently.
Physical Therapy Practices at Home
After knee prosthesis surgery, load transfer should be performed gradually on the patient. Personalized physical therapy and rehabilitation programs should be implemented gradually. Continuous and regular programs accelerate the patient's recovery process. Rehabilitation programs such as isometric and isotonic exercises at home, walking, stretching and stretching exercises should be under the control of a physiotherapist.
Aims of these applications:
• Correct angles of the knee joint
• To prevent adverse conditions such as muscle weakness, edema, and vascular occlusion that may occur due to inactivity after surgery
• To reduce complications that may occur after prosthetic surgery
• To improve the functional status of the patient after the operation and to enable him to move independently
• To increase the patient's motivation and quality of life
Patients usually keep their knees in a semi-bent position to reduce pain in the early period after knee prosthesis surgery But this stance is wrong. During rest, the patient should be careful to keep the knee straight because otherwise it may cause pain and gait disturbance in the future. In the early period, the posture and sitting positions of the patient are determined in physical therapy and rehabilitation. It should be ensured that the patient's leg is in a straight position during rest. At the same time, attention should be paid to the patient's pain and edema control during rehabilitation, and physical therapy methods should be applied without interruption.
In order for the rehabilitation program to reach the goal, the surgeon, physical therapy and rehabilitation team performing the operation must be in interaction. The development of the patient should be monitored moment by moment, and correct and appropriate interventions should be applied at the same time. It enables the operated knee to gain strength, movement and flexibility. Quality of life is increased by enabling the patient to move independently. In this way, it is ensured that the expectations from the operation are met.
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