| The concept of knee joint replacement continues to | | | | prescribed by the physician. |
| offer patients a significant increase in mobility and | | | | The goal of the exercise program is to achieve more |
| motion as well as a decrease in pain and discomfort. | | | | than 90 degrees of flexion and full extension. Most |
| Joints commonly replaced are those of the knee and | | | | patients remain on the machine when not ambulating. |
| the hip. Joint replacement remains an elective | | | | The continuous range of motion to the joints |
| procedure and requires a high degree of patient | | | | decreases postoperative pain, bleeding and possibly |
| understanding, education, and cooperation. The | | | | the incidence of deep vein thrombosis. |
| patient must assume responsibility for physical | | | | As the patient goes out of the hospital, it is of |
| therapy, exercises and weight control. | | | | utmost importance to continue with the exercise |
| Usually joint replacement is done especially for | | | | regimen. This is to prevent scarring and instability. The |
| severely destroyed joint surfaces as in arthritis, | | | | wound will be monitored on follow-up checkups. |
| necrosis and other degenerative diseases. When the | | | | However, it is the person's responsibility to monitor |
| pain is increasing in severity, doctors would | | | | any signs of complications like infection especially at |
| recommend this procedure. Moreover, it is done | | | | home. Contact sports or any activities that would |
| when there is decreased mobility and when a person | | | | involve pressure and stress on the operative site is |
| has an inability to perform activities of daily living. | | | | prohibited. The recommended exercise is swimming |
| Persons with irregularities of the joint surface such as | | | | because it increases muscle strength and at the |
| following a fracture or instability of the bones are | | | | same time prevents any pressure on the joints. |
| good candidates for a joint replacement. | | | | Home medications must be complied properly. In the |
| Knee Arthroplasty or Total Knee Joint replacement is | | | | future, when the patient will undergo other elective |
| a medical procedure wherein the distal femur, | | | | surgery or procedure, he must inform the physician |
| proximal tibia, and articulating surfaces of the patella | | | | that he has an artificial joint or knee. This is due to |
| are replaced with prosthesis. Infection is a disastrous | | | | the fact that the prosthesis can be a good area for |
| complication in knee replacement, so prophylactic | | | | possible infection. Aside from the medications, the |
| antibacterial medications are administered and aseptic | | | | patient must take note of his diet to control his |
| technique is strictly followed. | | | | weight. Increase in weight can place pressure on the |
| This procedure requires a considerable amount of | | | | joints and thus would complicate things. |
| patient compliance. The emphasis is on progressive | | | | There are many things that the patient needs to |
| exercise and prevention of complications. Following | | | | know especially when it comes to total knee joint |
| surgery, the knee is immobilized and the exercise | | | | replacement. These important details will enlighten the |
| program started as soon as possible. Many patients | | | | patient about the procedure and also be informed of |
| begin continuous passive motion using a mechanical | | | | the things that he needs to do and the things that |
| device that flexes and extends the knee at a set | | | | he must not do. |
| range and rate. These are gradually increased as | | | | |