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.
This week on our “Learn about your spine” series we focus on the C4 and C5 vertebrae. These vertebrae are part of the cervical spine and sit at the base of your neck. Injuries pertaining to this part of the spine are usually characterized by respiratory difficulties, trouble controlling the bladder, weak muscles and even paralysis in one or several parts of the body.
Read on to find out how spinal cord injury affects children and what you can do about it.
children riding scooter The C4 and C5 Vertebrae Some of the motor functions associated with these vertebrae include: – Controlling the mouth through the facial muscles – Ability to breathe – Moving and controlling the head – Moving the neck from side to side and up and down
laughing children Common Symptoms of CS and C5 Damage If you notice one or a combination of the following symptoms in your child, they may be suffering from spinal cord injury: – Muscle weakness: Your child may have difficulty lifting the shoulders or bending their elbows. That’s because C4 nerve damage weakens the rhomboid, trapezius, deltoid, bicep, and scapulae muscles. This disrupts motor function. – Weak breathing: Nerves emanating from the C4 and C5 vertebrae support the diaphragm, a muscle that contributes to our breathing ability. Severe damage to these nerves can cause breathing difficulties. – Pain or numbness in the arms and shoulders: The C4 and C5 nerves receive sensory signals from the dermatome, which includes the shoulder, shoulder blade, collarbone and the uppermost part of the arm. Whenever there’s pain or a “pins and needles” sensation in these parts of the body, it usually points to damage in the C4 and C5 vertebrae.
crying child Other symptoms include: – Limited range of motion – Loss of diaphragm function – Difficulty controlling bladder and bowel movement – Paralysis in torso, legs, wrists, and/ or hands
Causes of C4 and C5 Damage in Children
The above symptoms usually occur in children that experience physical development issues as a result of: – A car accident – Slipping and falling from a height – A sports injury from doing gymnastics, playing rugby, wrestling and other types of contact sports Birth defects are another major cause of C4 and C nerve damage in children. It can go unnoticed until the child reaches a school-going age.
painful ache
Children are predisposed to C4 and C5 injuries because unlike adults, their anatomic features aren’t yet fully developed. For instance, they have a different head-to-size ratio and reduced elasticity in their spinal ligaments capsules.
Treatment
Damage to the C4 and C5 vertebrae is irreversible, but you can take measures to prevent further damage and make the most of the remaining function.
The most common forms of treatment for spinal cord injury that affects the C4 and C5 vertebrae include spinal fusion. This helps to expand the nerves around the spinal cord to facilitate a speedy recovery.
In the long term, it’s worth looking into sustainable rehabilitation through methods such as Manual Therapy. This is a great way to gradually heal spinal cord injury in children and can help to improve your little one’s quality of life.
healthy child
Manual Therapy: How it Works
Manual therapy is a hands-on treatment modality that includes certain movements and stretching exercises to facilitate motion. It’s aimed at helping patients to manage the pain and improve overall health and wellness.
Unlike conventional physiotherapy, manual therapy is aimed at aligning the spine from different positions and performing soft tissue and spinal massage.
Good news! Philani Natural Health is offering free assessments for a limited time only. This usually costs R390 and is a part of your overall treatment. Book today and only pay for the treatment- your assessment is on the house.
