| There is a saying among some orthopedic surgeons | | | | developing further range of motion in the knee or hip |
| to their patients that the surgery was the easy part | | | | while the muscles are relaxed and easily manipulated. |
| it's the rehabilitation that is the hard part. Never have | | | | this can also of course be done by family members |
| truer words been said. After either a knee, hip, or | | | | or yourself once properly trained to do so. |
| shoulder has been replaced keeping the pain and | | | | After the treatment or your exercise session is |
| swelling to manageable levels is no doubt an art. | | | | completed, this is the time to immediately apply a |
| In physical therapy there are several hard and fast | | | | cold pack to the the affected area for 20-30 minutes |
| rules we tend to follow when preparing patients for | | | | to help reduce the swelling and pain that was initiated |
| rehabilitation. The use of heat and cold therapies are | | | | after having the joint exercised. Also if its a knee |
| usually brought up somewhere in the overall | | | | replacement its advised to elevate the limb higher |
| discussion. Generally its recommended that a patient | | | | then your heart to help with the reduction of swelling. |
| will use heat on the surrounding tissue before | | | | Again as with heat, do not place the cold pack |
| exercise and ice or other type of cold therapy after | | | | directly on the skin, the pain during a joint |
| the exercises. Now there are multiple ideas behind | | | | replacement is hard enough to handle at times |
| this theory with most prominent being, heat will relax | | | | without having to deal with frostbite as well. Unlike |
| the muscles around the joint making them more | | | | heat you can place the cold pack over toweling |
| pliable and easier to stretch and cold will help reduce | | | | directly on the knee or hip. The cold therapy will not |
| the swelling after the treatment and also reduce pain. | | | | promote further bleeding and swelling like heat will if |
| Heat and cold therapies have been around since the | | | | placed directly over the joint. |
| beginning of man and still promoted today. When I | | | | Every individual has different tolerances to pain and |
| treat a patient which is in the home setting for | | | | swelling. You will meet people for instance that never |
| instance, the joint that was replaced will not be quite | | | | used heat during their therapy and, will from time to |
| as acute as it was in the hospital Therefore, one or | | | | time meet some patients who did not use cold |
| both of these therapies may be discontinued by the | | | | therapy as well. I find that you can skip these |
| patient but that is something I do not recommend. | | | | modalities after a hip replacement if you choose, |
| Before I get to the home I will recommend to the | | | | however, it is advised not to skip the cold therapy |
| patient that a heating pad is placed around the | | | | after a knee replacement as they seem to be more |
| surrounding joint not directly on it and also the proper | | | | temperamental then the hip. Pain and swelling is more |
| toweling is to be used to prevent burning the soft | | | | prominent in the knee then in the hip. |
| tissue around the incision. this is usually applied 20-30 | | | | Using heat and ice have their place in rehabilitation |
| minutes before therapy is started. If its a knee | | | | and can make your rehab experience tolerable. |
| replacement for instance the patient is asked to also | | | | Always check with your doctor or therapist if you |
| elevate the affected limb while getting the heat | | | | have any questions regarding times or application of |
| although this is not completely necessary. | | | | the above as there are many ways to use heat and |
| The idea is by using the heat I can start by | | | | ice with physical therapy and still be effective. |