Get Back On Your Feet | Physiotherapist Recommended Precautions For A Successful Knee Replacement Recovery

Knee replacement surgery is a major medical procedure that involves the replacement of a damaged or diseased knee joint with an artificial joint. This procedure is often recommended to patients who are suffering from severe knee pain or who have lost mobility due to arthritis or injury. After knee replacement surgery, it is crucial to follow the proper precautions and guidelines recommended by a physiotherapist to ensure a successful recovery.

The following are some essential precautions and do's and don'ts that a physiotherapist may advise after knee replacement surgery:

Follow the prescribed rehabilitation program:
After knee replacement surgery, a physiotherapist will create a customized rehabilitation program tailored to your specific needs. It is essential to follow this program diligently to ensure a smooth and successful recovery. The program may include exercises, stretches, and movements to help improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion in the knee joint.

Keep the incision site clean and dry:
It is vital to keep the incision site clean and dry to prevent infection. A physiotherapist may advise you to cover the incision site with a waterproof dressing while showering or bathing to keep it dry. Avoid submerging the incision site in water until it has completely healed.

Use assistive devices:
After knee replacement surgery, you may need to use assistive devices such as crutches, walkers, or canes to help you move around safely. A physiotherapist can help you choose the right device and provide instructions on how to use it correctly.

Manage pain and swelling:
Pain and swelling are common after knee replacement surgery. Cryotherapy (ice packs or cold compresses) can be done to reduce swelling and pain. Pain medication may also be prescribed to manage discomfort.

Avoid certain movements:
After knee replacement surgery, it is essential to avoid certain movements that can strain or damage the knee joint. A physiotherapist may advise you to avoid twisting, pivoting, or squatting on the affected leg. High-impact activities such as running or jumping should also be avoided.

Wear appropriate footwear:
Wearing appropriate footwear can help support the knee joint and prevent injuries. Shoes with good arch support and cushioning are recommended by the therapist to reduce the impact on the knee joint.

Maintain a healthy weight:
Maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce stress on the knee joint and promote a faster recovery. A physiotherapist may recommend a healthy diet and exercise program to help you maintain a healthy weight.

Gradually increase activity level:
After knee replacement surgery, it is essential to gradually increase your activity level to avoid overexerting the knee joint. Gentle exercises and a gradual increase in the intensity and duration of the activity are recommended as the knee joint heals.

Attend follow-up appointments:
It is crucial to attend all follow-up appointments with your physiotherapist and surgeon to monitor your recovery progress. These appointments may include X-rays, physical examinations, and discussions about your rehabilitation program.

Avoid driving until cleared by your surgeon:
After knee replacement surgery, it may take several weeks before you are cleared to drive. A physiotherapist may advise against driving until your surgeon has cleared you to do so.

Knee replacement surgery is a significant procedure that requires proper care and precautions to ensure a successful recovery. Following the advice of a physiotherapist is essential to reduce pain, swelling, and complications and improve mobility and function in the knee joint. By following these precautions and do's and don'ts, you can achieve a smooth and successful recovery after knee replacement surgery.

 

What NOT to do after Hip Replacement Surgery?

If someone you care for has undergone a hip replacement surgery, it's important to know the precautions they should take after hip replacement. Once the hip replacement surgery is done, some of the patients want to return to their routine work as soon as possible, but without taking proper precautions they might cause dislocation or injury, other patients are apprehensive to move and thus delay the process of getting back to their jobs. The patient needs not to be afraid of using the involved limb after surgery, the only thing he needs to take care of while returning back to their work is to take proper precautions to prevent any complication. Hip replacement is major surgery and takes months to recover completely. Proper guidance should be taken by consulting a doctor or a physiotherapist to maintain the balance between rest and activity. The process of maintaining balance will change over time, as with time the hip joint stabilizes and thus improves in function. Today we are going to review with you some important precautionary measures to be taken after the hip replacement surgery:

Postoperative precautions for total hip replacement surgery:

To avoid prosthesis dislocation, patients are given instructions to avoid such motions.

·         Crossing legs or bringing them together (adduction).

·         Bringing the knee too close to the chest (extreme hip flexion).

·         Turning the foot in toward the other leg (internal rotation).

·         When sitting, sit with knees comfortably apart.

·         Avoid sitting in low chairs and especially overstuffed sofas or chairs.

·         Do not lie on the involved side, until cleared by the doctor.

·         When lying on the uninvolved side, always have a large pillow or two small pillows between the knees have the knees in a slightly bent position.

·         Continue to use the elevated commode seat, usually around.

 

6-10wk

·         Do not cross the legs while walking, especially when turning.

·         Avoid bending past 80 degrees (e.g. touching your feet, pulling up pants, picking up something off the floor, pulling up blankets while in bed.

·         Sit in a slightly reclined position avoid leaning forward when sitting on the commode. Do not let your shoulders get ahead of your hips when sitting or getting up.

·         Avoid raising your knee higher than your hip when sitting in a chair.

·         Going up the stairs - Step up with an uninvolved leg, keeping crutches on the step below until both feet are on the step above, and then bring both crutches on the step.

·         Coming down the stairs - Place crutches on the step below. Step down with the involved leg and then with the uninvolved leg.

·         Continue to use the crutches or walker until return to see the doctor. Avoid prolonged sitting for longer than 1hr before standing and stretching.

·         Can return to driving 6 weeks after the surgery only if you have good control over the involved leg and can move the extremity from accelerator to brake with little effort.

·         Place nightstand on the same side of the bed as the uninvolved leg avoid twisting the trunk towards the involved side, which would be the same as turning the leg inward.

·         Try to lie flat in the bed flat for at least 15-30 min per day to prevent tightness in the front part of the hip.

·         If there is increased swelling in the involved leg, try popping the foot up (remembering to lean back).

People recovering from hip replacement surgery are advised to take long-term precautions which can help them to avoid problems. These precautions help to prevent their new hip from dislocating and helps with a quick and thorough recovery.

Precautions for safe physiotherapy treatment during covid-19

 

Guidelines & Precautions For Safe Physiotherapy Treatment During COVID-19

Do you require physiotherapy treatment for any of your health-related issues? But are afraid of visiting a nearby physiotherapy clinic and are also afraid to avail the physiotherapy services at your home due to COVID-19? If so, then now you don’t need to refrain because we have now moved from fear and anxiety to hope generated by the availability of vaccines. The only thing you need to be careful about is to maintain hygienic conditions to keep yourself safe during this pandemic. This pandemic is an outbreak and has changed the standards of working for employees and employers, across the globe. And physiotherapists need to deliver their services in this new normal by taking safety precautions and maintaining hygienic conditions. The purpose of this blog is to provide a set of protocols that the patient, physiotherapist, and clinical staff requires to follow when wanting to access or deliver physical therapy services while safeguarding themselves. Given below are the guidelines and protocols that are expected to be followed in COVID safe physiotherapy clinic or during COVID safe home visit. 

 

Guidelines and protocol for Safe Physiotherapy Clinic visit:

 

These guidelines and protocols will start when the patient enters the clinic, right up until the end of the rehabilitation session and when he leaves the clinic.

 

• All the treatments should be appointment based and the scheduled time should be strictly followed to prevent over-crowding in the clinic.
• In case any patient is suffering from fever, cold, cough, they should cancel their appointments.
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• On entering the clinic the patient should sanitize his hands and should be allowed to enter only if he is wearing a mask. It is mandatory to wear a mask before he steps into the clinic or else he can be provided with one by the clinic. The temperature should be checked and disposable gloves should be provided to put on their hands.
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• Only one attendant should be allowed with the patient. As the patient steps into the clinic, social distancing should be maintained. They can remove the footwear outside and can put another pair of footwear inside which is again sanitized. The clinic can provide them with disposable shoe cover to put on.
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• A receptionist or an assistant therapist can guide the patient across the clinic without involving the other therapists, each therapist operates in such a manner, that congestion is not increased and facilitates safe patient flow.
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• When the patient enters the treatment room, a disposable headcover is provided as most of the infection travels through hair. In the room, the treatment beds and pillow should be covered with a non-cotton sheet or tissue roll. Once the treatment is done, the cover or the tissue roll is discarded and the equipments are again sanitized. So all the hygienic and safety conditions are maintained.
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• Daily cleaning should be maintained in the clinic. Disposable wipes or sanitizers should be used to sanitize the countertops, doorknobs, toilets, floor, machines, parallel bars, exercise equipments like dumbells, etc. Doors, tables, beds, chairs, etc should be sanitized during the start and end of clinical hours.

 

Guidelines and protocol for the Therapist and the Supporting Staff:

 

• The therapists and the supporting staff should be vaccinated and antibody tested. The staff should be given the training to make them aware of workplace hygiene. Surfaces, objects and equipments should be cleaned and sanitized before and after use.
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• When entering the clinic the therapist and the supporting staff should remove the mask, discard it, wash hands for at least 20 seconds and wear the fresh disposable mask. Then check the body temperature of each staff member, assuring safety.
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• Regular hands-wash before and after the treatment should be made mandatory. For the therapist, hand hygiene is very important before and after the patient contact and before putting on and removing the gloves, gown, eye protection shield, or glasses and mask. After hand-wash put on the non-sterile gloves when entering the room or treatment area of the patient.
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• The therapist should put on a clean gown upon entering the room or region of the patient, taking all the precautionary measures as well as a safety measure with the patient. After the treatment, session remove and dispose of the gown in a designated waste or linen tub before leaving the room or treatment area. If using disposable gowns the gowns should be discarded after use but for cloth gowns, after each use cloth gowns, should be laundered.
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• Disposable caps should be put to prevent hair from falling thus preventing the spread of infection as most infections are transmitted through hair.
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• Eye protection shields or glasses can also be used for safety purposes.

 

Guidelines and protocol for Safe Home Visit:

 

• Before scheduling the home visit screening should be done for identifying any risk for becoming infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 or any history of illness within the household. Screening for symptoms of COVID-19 with the household members should be done. 
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• All family members except infants should have access to mask during the treatment session. If not, then there should be some alternative safe place for the treatment session to be conducted.
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• Before entering the home for a home visit, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, wear a mask, gown and eye protection shield or goggles. Before entering the home wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
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• Perform daily temperature and symptoms check especially before entering the home.
• Screen household members before or immediately upon arrival. Screening for the symptoms of COVID-19 includes cough, fever, shortness of breath, body aches, loss of smell or taste. Limit contact with the family members, when not providing direct care. Make the family members aware of possible exposures, presence of signs or symptoms in the household members, recent travel, and recent visitors. Wear a mask or cloth covering the face.
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• All supplies, equipments, and materials, used in the home must be cleaned and sanitized.
• After conducting a home visit remove and discard the mask, gloves, and gown outside of the home and replace them with the new ones.

  

The rate of infection which is prevalent in the community these days is because of the irresponsible behavior of the people rather than the viral load. The irresponsible behavior of people like not wearing masks, not maintaining social distancing, not following health hygiene are the main reasons to blame behind this wave of COVID-19 pandemic.