Following surgery, physical therapy begins in the recovery room, before the patient is even awake. This increases circulation, prevents stiffness and, say surgeons, reassures the patient that it really is okay to begin exercising immediately. While in the hospital, therapists and therapy aides work with patients twice daily to establish an exercise routine. Dedication to the routine is vital to a successful recovery. During the days and weeks following surgery, the joint must be moved regularly or the scar tissue may prevent a good range of motion in the future.
Exercise also increases strength in the muscles that support and protect the joint.
After four to six days in the hospital, most patients either go home or to a rehabilitation hospital to continue their recovery. That support can help patients recover faster. Dr. Roy Leaman, medical director of Health South's Rehabilitation Hospital of Austin, knows the process from both sides. He had knee replacement surgery performed by Dr. Schoch just before Thanksgiving, and spent several days at Health South. While a rehab hospital program may not provide an advantage in terms of overall function in the long term, in the short term, the support and focus it offers can help get patients back to everyday activities quicker.