Joint Replacement
We are fortunate to enjoy a good relationship with many different orthopedic surgeons and see a wide variety of total shoulder, total hip, and total knee replacements, as well as some of the less common procedures such as great toe joint arthroplasty.
Our approach is similar to that employed with other conditions – we have found that early aggressive treatment with a manual – centered approach hastens the recovery process significantly.
We have found that early intervention at our clinic, as soon as 2-3 days post-op, yields significantly improved outcomes. Should the concept of this early mobilization be of interest to you, it is suggested that you discuss this with your surgeon, as you DO have a choice with regards to your follow-up rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Who benefits from Joint Replacement Therapy at Cutting Edge PT?
You might benefit from physical therapy after a joint replacement if you experienced:
- Total or Partial Knee Replacements
- Total Hip Replacement
- Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
- Revisions of Joint Replacements
- Pre and Post Manipulation of Shoulder and Knee
- Rehabilitation of difficult, non-responsive cases or failed treatment
The Cutting Edge Difference
Specialty-Level Care
Target your discomfort at the source with a customized treatment plan.
More Board Certified Experts
Experience high-quality care from a team you can trust.
Intentional Care
Enjoy individualized, compassionate care.
Frequently Asked Questions
If we are asking you to do something that is hurting too much, let us know! Physical therapy should not be severely painful. It is not common to be so sore that patients are in pain or it affects their daily life. If this ever happens during or after an appointment, let us know and we will adapt your program.
We recommend budgeting 40-60 minutes for a typical therapy session. The only exception to this will be your first visit, which can take about 20 minutes longer due to the physical therapy evaluation your therapist will provide. We also recommend showing up about 10-15 minutes early to your first visit. This way, you can complete the paperwork before your visit time and streamline the process.
A typical order for physical therapy will ask for 2-3 visits per week for 4-6 weeks. Sometimes the order will specify something different. What generally happens is for the first 2-3 weeks, we recommend 3x per week. This is because it will be the most intensive portion of your treatment. After that, it is common to taper to 2x weekly, based on your level of function and progress.
Yes. Physical therapy works based on the science of how the body rebuilds and heals. The biggest killer of progress is inconsistency. We recommend adhering to your prescribed sessions agreed upon in your PT Eval to achieve desired results.
A physical therapy visit lasts about 40-60 minutes. The actual contents of the visit vary based on your diagnosis/need, but typically what happens is:
- You check in with the receptionist, make any appointments necessary, and we discuss your health insurance benefits with you.
- You go into the gym. You can change clothes if you need to, then begin therapy.
- You perform 6-8 various exercises and stretches. These can include therapeutic band exercises, light body weight exercises, or minimal weights. The stretches will promote strength, stability, improved range of motion, and pain relief.
- We can initiate other techniques to include manual work, taping, cupping, and dry needling as needed.
- The therapist makes recommendations based on your progress. These can include altering the frequency of visits, making additions/alterations to your home exercise plan, or things to do before your next visit.