If you're facing the prospect of joint replacement surgery, it's understandable to feel anxious. The idea of someone cutting into your body, removing parts, and replacing them with new ones can be overwhelming. However, the good news is that with the right approach, you can mitigate some of the post-surgical challenges and speed up your recovery.
Understanding the Decline in Function
When a joint deteriorates to the point that it needs to be replaced, the body's neurological response can be protective, causing a decline in function. This stress can set you back even further before you can start to regain your function. However, there are ways to avoid this setback and improve your quality of life much sooner.
Preparing for Surgery
In an ideal scenario, working with a trained professional before surgery can help you achieve better results. This pre-surgical re-education work focuses on getting your muscles and nervous system on the same page, making them as efficient as possible, even with the compromised joint.
Post-Surgery Recovery
As soon as you have the surgery, the next phase begins. The use of technology, such as anti-atrophy and anti-spasm protocols, can help your body process the inflammation necessary for healing more efficiently. This process can prevent restricted ranges of motion, allowing you to expand much more quickly. The guardedness signaled to your muscle is the only thing that stops you from getting your range of motion back, but with the right approach, this can be changed.
Accelerating the Recovery
After the initial, immediate postsurgical phase, the focus is on re-education and re-strengthening, leading to full functionality and confidence in your movements. With an accelerated approach, you can expect to see a smaller dip and faster rise in your recovery. Real-life examples have shown us that people with knee replacements can pass all of their conventional physical therapy tests in two weeks and one day, post-surgery. People with hip replacements and construction jobs can be back to work in just over two weeks. People with shoulder replacements can regain full range of motion and the ability to do a pushup in five weeks.
Getting Started
If you're interested in an accelerated recovery process, we can help. We understand that everyone's situation is unique, and we work with each client individually to create a customized plan that works best for them. Our goal is to help you recover as quickly as possible and get back to the life you love. Contact us to learn more.
