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.
Do you often suffer from a stiff neck? Do you ever feel an uncomfortable tingling sensation on your neck, shoulders, and arms? Sometimes the sensation might travel down to your hands and fingers or manifest as a sharp pain in the affected areas. These are just some of the symptoms associated with a subluxation or herniation on the 3rd cervical vertebra (C3). This week’s article is a continuation of our series on the spine and we will focus on the C3. Read on for more. painful neckAbout the C3 VertebraC3 is in the last portion of the upper neck which makes sense why it affects the neck and upper body. The nerves that come out of this vertebra play a huge role in sending sensory messages from below the neck to the brain and conveying motor signals from the brain to the body. The misalignment of this vertebra significantly affects our ability to use critical organs such as ears, facial nerves, and teeth. A misaligned C3, would affect our ability to show facial expressions like smiling or frowning. SmilingThis vertebra also contributes to neck rotation and flexibility, which is why a C3 misalignment can lead to a stiff and sore neck. Symptoms of a misaligned C3 VertebraSome of the most common symptoms of a C3 misalignment include pain in the chest, arms, wrists, hands, and fingers. You may also feel a tingling in your arms and hands. A disc herniation can lead to excruciating pain when trying to turn your neck from side to side. This can limit neck motion and negatively affect your ability to perform simple activities like driving your car. Man driving carMost of the time, disc subluxation or herniation symptoms develop gradually over time. But, sometimes the condition can advance quickly and suddenly. That’s why we at Philani Natural Health recommend doing regular maintenance therapy to keep your spine in “ship shape!” CausesHere are some of the most common causes of disc subluxation or herniation: – Aging: As we age, the intervertebral discs dehydrate and lose their resilience, leading to disc herniation. This is known as cervical degenerative disc disease and it can cause pressure on the joints and muscles as well as a stiff and/or painful neck. – Accidents: Disc herniation can also happen because of an accident or unintentionally snapping and displacing the C3 vertebra. Once this happens, spinal fluid leaks out from the disc, causing an uncomfortable pressure on the neck that won’t go away. – Lifestyle factors: Certain lifestyle factors such as regular tobacco use, poor nutrition and lack of exercise can also increase your risk. Poor posture can also place pressure on the cervical spine and lead to disc herniation. – Text neck: This refers to the position that most of us take while texting or using the computer. This position is characterized by slouching for long periods of time. painful hands and wristsCertain movements like incorrect twisting, lifting and daily wear and tear worsen the situation and cause intense pain in these areas. The SolutionYour first line of defense against a herniated disc should be manual physiotherapy and exercise. Within 2 to 4 sessions of manual therapy, you should experience relief from pain and symptoms so that you can get back to living life as normal. Manual therapy can also help you avoid surgery and painful needle injection therapies which are considered as the last line of defense. manual therapy massageThe easiest way to get your disc back in shape is to start therapy as soon as the problem arises. This is not a quick fix but over time it will eliminate the problem completely and more sustainably. PreventionAging is inevitable and none of us can escape it. But, you can take measures to reduce your risk of developing a herniated disc. This includes regular exercise, practicing good posture and eating well. Be sure to consume the following nutrients and supplements to care for your joints and strengthen to strengthen your bones:– Calcium: green leafy vegetables (i.e. kale, spinach, bok choy), oranges, almonds, blackstrap molasses, etc. – Vitamin D3, K2, B12, and C: Green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, strawberries, red and green peppers, sweet potatoes, etc. Healthy food– Magnesium: green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, dark chocolate, whole grains, avocados, bananas, etc. – Glucosamine: reduces osteoarthritis-related pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints– MSM is a sulfur-containing supplement that helps with joint repair. – Tumeric, the curcumin in Tumeric is a helpful aid against inflammation.– Devils Claw: a herb that helps with muscle and joint pain. ConclusionA lot of the work we do here at Philani requires a thorough knowledge of anatomy. And we enjoy sharing this knowledge with you hoping it will enable you to better understand your body. Aging is inevitable and none of us can escape it. But, you can take measures to reduce your risk of developing a herniated disc. This includes regular exercise, practicing good posture, eating well and taking preventative manual therapy sessions. Good news! We’re offering free assessments to anyone that books an appointment through our website. Head over to our appointment page to book your free assessment and start your journey to better health today.
