Getting partial knee replacement surgery isn’t something that anyone wants to experience. It’s painful; it’s disruptive and just generally unpleasant. But, one of the biggest concerns that people have going into it is whether they’ll be able to maintain the same level of mobility they had before the surgery. There’s no cookie-cutter answer to this question because it depends on the individual situation.
For instance, if you’re a highly active person that partakes in marathons and other high impact activities, you might experience a decline in your mobility levels. It’s a fact that your body won’t be able to function the same again but you can take measures to adapt after the surgery.
manual therapy for partial knee replacement
Can you continue high impact activities after knee replacement surgery?
Generally, high impact activities like running are discouraged after a surgery of this magnitude. That’s because your body needs time to heal and it might take weeks, months or years before you feel like your old self again. Your ability to perform impact activities after surgery will also depend on a number of factors like your age, your level of motivation and your health status before you went into surgery.
Plus, each surgeon has a unique rehabilitation protocol and it’s wise to follow that in order to speed up recovery. While most surgeons advise against partaking in certain activities during the rehabilitation period, you’ll be able to enjoy other activities like swimming, golfing and rowing for example.
Manual Therapy for Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
Your surgeon might also recommend manual therapy as part of your outpatient recovery program. Cooperating with your therapist and getting regular treatment sessions will help to prevent another knee replacement surgery in the long run.
It’s also beneficial to participate in manual therapy in preparation for the surgery. Depending on the situation, pre-surgery manual therapy can significantly improve your results and speed up the healing process after the surgery. It will also strengthen your knee and help you achieve a better range of motion.
What is Partial Knee Replacement Surgery?
As the name implies, partial knee replacement surgery is meant to replace a particular part of your knee. This could be the kneecap, the lateral or outside part of the knee or the medial aka inside part of the knee. The point is to get rid of damaged bone and tissue in the knee joint. The removed part is replaced with a prosthetic that helps your knee to function normally even with the missing part.
The good news is partial knee surgery typically has a quick recovery time when compared to total knee replacement surgery. But, you’ll need manual therapy for at least 4 to 6 weeks afterward to safely transition your joints and soft tissues to their former state.
Within two or three months you’ll be able to perform high impact activities like running and plyometrics. And, your knee should hold up for another 10 years without incident but eventually, you may need a full knee replacement, especially if you constantly put pressure on the knee due to frequent, impact activity.
Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves sideways instead of remaining in a natural upright position. The cause of scoliosis is unknown but it’s more common among people with muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy.
Of the millions who suffer from scoliosis, most have given up on healing the condition because it seems like everything they try just doesn’t work. But, there’s one form of treatment that has been proven to treat the symptoms associated with scoliosis so that patients can regain mobility and enjoy a better quality of life. This treatment is known as manual therapy and in the following article, we’re going to explore its effect on scoliosis. Read on for more.
Symptoms of Scoliosis
In addition to causing unnatural spinal curvature, scoliosis manifests in symptoms like back pain, neck pain, and discomfort in the lumbar spine. You may also experience an uneven hip ratio where one hip is higher than another, which makes it uncomfortable to walk.
Scoliosis can affect your gait, compromise your ability to bend, lift and even breathe properly. However, the severity of your symptoms will depend on the extent of your spine’s curvature, specifically in the mid-back area.
back stretching
Scoliosis Treatment
If scoliosis is spotted early enough, say in adolescence, then back braces might be prescribed to slow down the curvature’s progression. If left untreated, scoliosis can cause debilitating pain later on in adulthood. That’s because the body has to compensate for the effects of scoliosis on your spine, pelvis, hips, neck, and shoulders.
Manual therapy offers a comprehensive approach to scoliosis treatment because it has the ability to correct misalignments in all the areas mentioned above. Manual therapy integrates a number of functional techniques that help to correct dysfunction from the joints and soft tissue.
In fact, joint mobilization and soft tissue massage are two of the most effective manual therapy treatment methods for treating scoliosis. These two methods can improve flexibility in the lumbar spine and relieve symptoms like low back pain and mobility problems.
The great thing about manual physical therapy for scoliosis is that you’ll walk away with a better understanding of where the pain is coming from. You’ll also get recommendations on how to maintain the right posture to improve your condition by standing, sleeping and sitting in the right manner.
Sometimes, the patient’s own body mechanics contribute to the symptoms, and treating that alone can improve your scoliosis significantly.
In a nutshell, manual therapy for scoliosis is a holistic approach that includes a combination of ongoing treatments, as well as mobility and strengthening exercises that’ll reduce symptoms and strengthen your spine over time.
Benefits of Physical Therapy for Scoliosis
manual therapy for scoliosis
In addition to improving strength and mobility, regular manual therapy treatment has a lot to offer scoliosis patients. It can significantly improve your ability to enjoy the recreational activities you once did before the condition progressed. In addition, manual therapy can promote:
– Better sleep: Scoliosis can make it extremely difficult to enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep due to the improper spinal posture. In fact, a large number of scoliosis patients suffer from bouts of insomnia. Regular manual therapy treatment can help to improve your sleep by diminishing the amount of pain you feel.
– Increased mobility: Getting regular manual therapy treatments will align your back muscles in order to improve spinal mobility. This makes it easier to perform daily tasks that may have caused you aches and pains in the past.
– Improved body awareness: The more you increase awareness of your body, the better your posture and body mechanics will be. Manual therapy can help you feel more attuned to your body so you can modify your movement habits and reduce scoliosis symptoms.
– Improve circulation: Manual therapy treatment stretches the muscles to improve blood circulation. This can significantly improve flexibility and mobility.
We’re always so excited to share fascinating facts and titbits about the spine with you, and we’ve reached the end of our “Learn about Your Spine” series. We hope you’ve enjoyed it. Today’s article is all about the 7th cervical vertebra which is one of the most important parts of the spine. Read on for more.
What is the C7 Cervical Vertebra?
Imagine you’re picking up the phone to take an important call when all of a sudden your arm starts to feel like jelly. This may be caused by your 7th cervical vertebra.
The 7th Cervical vertebra controls the triceps. The triceps is a large muscle situated at the back of your arm and it’s what most people go to strengthen at the gym on “arm day”. But, this muscle is good for more than just making your arms look good in a tank top.
triceps
C7 is easily identifiable because it protrudes through the skin. You’ll notice it if you feel around at the base of your neck. Due to its noticeable protrusion, this vertebra is often called vertebra prominens. C7 starts where the neck meets the upper back, at the beginning of your spine’s curvature. It connects two very different parts of your spine, as the upper back is quite rigid, while the neck is highly flexible.
What Happens when the C7 cervical vertebra gets damaged?
The C7 spinal segment is the exit point of the C8 nerve root, so when the C8 nerve root gets compressed, a condition known as C8 radiculopathy will happen.
What are the symptoms of C8 radiculopathy?
– Numbness, weakness or pain on the lower shoulder – Tingling sensation at the back of the arm and/or forearm – Tingling sensation or pain on the pinky finger
shoulder pain These symptoms can manifest on both sides of your arm or on one side depending on the cause and severity of the problem.
It’s also possible to experience C7 spinal cord injury as a result of the following: – Motor vehicle accident – Falls – Trauma – Tumors – Disease – Birth defects
Some of the most common symptoms of a C7 spinal cord injury include: – Losing control of bladder and bowel movement – Difficulty breathing – Difficulty extending the fingers, arms, and shoulders – Reduced dexterity in the hands and fingers – A burning and painful sensation at the back of the arms (triceps) and/ or in the shoulder blade
Causes of C7 damage
In addition to the above-mentioned symptoms and causes, C7 damage can manifest in the form of:
– A Degenerative C7-T1 Segment: The pain you feel on your shoulders could be a result of a degenerative C7 and T1 vertebrae. This happens as a result of inflammation or irritation from the degenerating disk.
– Osteoarthritis: It’s very rare for osteoarthritis to manifest in the C7 cervical vertebra. But, the natural disintegration of facet joints can lead to C7 osteoarthritis, also known as neck arthritis. A severe injury could make matters worse, so be sure to get this area checked out if you’re constantly feeling pain or stiffness in it. Philani Natural Health offers a free assessment to anyone who books through our website appointment page. So, head on over there and get yourself checked out!
– Spinal stenosis: What is spinal stenosis, you ask? To put it simply, this condition manifests as a narrowing of the spinal canal, which is basically your backbone which runs from the base of your neck to the lower back.
The spinal canal is supposed to protect your spinal cord from impact and injury. But, when it narrows down it actually pinches the spinal cord and this is never a good thing.
At this point, the condition becomes myelopathy and it could lead to permanent spinal cord injury. When this happens, you could lose all sensation below the neck or experience leg or core muscle paralysis.
– Fracture: A bone fracture at this level can cause pain and discomfort.
– Infection: Although uncommon, it’s possible to get an infection in the C7 spinal segment. This usually happens in the case of a secondary lung infection.
– Tumour: This is another rarity, but we thought we’d cover it because spinal tumors are not to be taken lightly. Aside from the noticeable bulging, they often manifest as a painful sensation at the base of your neck that won’t go away.
– Herniation: Another common cause of C7 damage is disc herniation. Although rare, disc herniation can happen on the C7 cervical vertebra as a result of a muscle tear in this area. This causes a jelly-like substance to “leak” out from the disc.
This is not a pretty picture folks, and you want to avoid this at all costs by following some of the maintenance and treatment tips we’ll be sharing with you below.
C7 Treatment
The good news is you don’t have to undergo invasive surgery to treat most of the conditions related to the C7 cervical vertebra. The general recommendation is to stick with nonsurgical treatment consistently for 3 to 6 months before you seek more severe methods.
This is enough time to figure out if methods like manual therapy will work for you. If you still don’t feel relief after 6 months, then you’ll have to book yourself in for a proper surgical procedure to get rid of the problem.
Keep in mind that surgery at the C7/ T1 level is more difficult because it’s situated deeper in the body and it’s protected by a lot of bone tissue. Not only that, but it’s close to neurovascular bundles, which is a critical and sensitive part of the spine.
Above all, physical therapy comes highly recommended for the treatment of spinal cord injury. The goal of such treatment is to help the patient restore lost function in the affected area and live life as normal again.
Make sure to also keep a positive attitude as you go through treatment. So long as treatment starts early, it’s possible to regain function in the affected area and get your life back!
Good news! You can get a FREE assessment from Philani Manual Health when you book online. Click on our appointment page and get started today.
Learn about your spine series- Part 4: C6 Cervical Vertebra
painful shoulder
If you’re reading this, then you know that shoulder pain is nothing to be sniffed at. To say that performing daily tasks will be difficult is an understatement. A painful shoulder can negatively affect your quality of life and compromise your ability to perform simple tasks like picking up objects, lifting up your arm or even brushing your teeth. But, have you ever wondered what causes shoulder pain? Whether it happens gradually due to old age, or abruptly due to an injury or misuse, there are certain tissues involved in the problem that once corrected, can rapidly heal shoulder pain. As usual, we at Philani approach the issue from the purview of spine health and this article is dedicated to exploring a part of the spine which has a direct effect on shoulder function and pain.
The connection between your spine and shoulder health
If you’ve been following our “Learn about your spine series” then you know that the human spine consists of four major curvatures, each with several bones within it. The C6 part of the spine is part of the cervical curvature and is responsible for ensuring the proper function of the shoulders, the neck, and even your tonsils.
shoulder pain
Common types of shoulder pain
Shoulder pain manifests in different ways according to the cause. Generally, these are some of the most common types of shoulder pain and their causes:
– Calcific Tendinitis: This condition is characterized by a sudden sharp pain that tends to flare up particularly in the mornings. It’s very common among diabetes sufferers, as well as middle-aged individuals and the elderly.
Calcific tendinitis pain stems from calcium deposits that are found in the rotator cuff tendons, which is a fancy way of saying “the part between your arm and your shoulder.” According to experts, these calcium deposits develop when one is healing from an injury in this area and are caused by an inability to heal the problem properly. The most effective treatment for this condition is to take mild pain medication or herbs like Devil’s Claw and Capsaicin, in conjunction with physical therapy methods like such as Breuss Massage to help ease the deposits out of the way.
– Osteoarthritis: This has to be one of the most common conditions that we deal with here at Philani, and not just among the elderly but with middle-aged patients as well. While most people think that osteoarthritis only affects the hands and knees, it can also manifest in the shoulders as an incessant pain that flares up every time you try to move your arm or your shoulder.
This happens due to an erosion of the cartilage cushions that stand between the bones in your shoulder. Once this happens the bones rub up against each other and can cause a gnawing pain. The most common osteoarthritis treatments include taking corticosteroid injections, anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy. The latter can be quite excruciating, especially if you rely on conventional physical therapy methods. On the other hand, Dorn Method Therapy corrects the problem without clicking or cracking the joints into place, thus reducing the amount of pain you feel during treatment sessions.
– Adhesive Capsulitis: You might be familiar with this condition as “frozen shoulder” and it happens when the tissues around the shoulder joint stiffen. It’s mostly common among middle-aged individuals that suffer from medical conditions like high cholesterol, diabetes and thyroid disorders.
Frozen shoulder can also happen after a minor injury, a tendon tear or a rotator cuff impingement. This condition makes it difficult to move the shoulder and sufferers tend to avoid all movement as a result. The good news is that you can completely heal from adhesive capsulitis by using nonoperative treatment methods such as manual therapy.
stretching
Also, performing simple stretches on a daily basis can fast-track the healing process for frozen shoulder as well as the other conditions mentioned in this article.
Performing these stretches two to three times a week can help to alleviate pain and increase muscle flexibility as well.
