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How physiotherapy helps seniors prepare for, and recover from, a total knee replacement procedure

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How physiotherapy helps seniors prepare for, and recover from, a total knee replacement procedure
31 AugHealth, How-to advice

With the average Australian now living well into their 80s, the likelihood of seniors needing total knee replacement surgery is increasing.

If you have osteoarthritis (OA) in one or both of your knees, the time may come when a total knee replacement is the best solution.

This article will take you through some information about a total knee replacement (TKR) and how to best prepare for one..

What is a total knee replacement?

Simply put, total knee replacement surgery replaces the bony surfaces of the knee joint that have become damaged, with artificial ones. A TKR procedure aims to manage pain, swelling and disability to allow for a better quality of life.

It is always advised to consider conservative treatment such as physiotherapy before undergoing a TKR.

TKRs are usually considered after all other pain management and physical therapies have been exhausted.

The total knee replacement (TKR) journey

Preparation and “prehab”

For planned TKRs, the rehabilitation process should start before the surgery has even taken place (we call this “prehab”).

This prehab period usually lasts for 6-8 weeks. Depending on the individual’s ability to weight-bear, this period involves a progressive resistance training program with stretches and exercises, to take the joint through its desired ‘range of motion’. This might include pool workouts, recumbent bike exercises (whereby the rider is placed in a laid-back reclining position), strength training, and stretches.

Research has shown that pre-operative exercises reduce the need for post-operative care and reduce the length of stay in hospital.

The additional benefits of engaging in prehab include:

  • improving pre-op pain,
  • developing muscle memory and familiarity with post-op exercises, and
  • improving overall strength, fitness and functional performance.

After your TKR

Immediately after the total knee replacement, the recovery process starts. Depending on your surgeon, you may get out of bed on the same day as the surgery, or the following day.

The physiotherapist in hospital will help you to move your knee joint and activate the muscles. They may also use ice to help manage pain and swelling associated with the operation.

Most people will be discharged from hospital three days after surgery.

Rehabilitation

Before returning home, some knee replacement clients head to another medical unit for rehabilitation.

At rehab you will be involved in more intense physio and, in some cases, hydrotherapy to get the knee moving and strong before you head home.

Exercises in this stage are similar to prehab exercises, but may also include a variety of other functional exercises, like step-ups and balance retraining exercises.

Whether you are sent to rehab after hospital or back home, you may still need some further physio in order to get the most out of your new knee.

Our physiotherapists at TPC can come to your home and help you with a strengthening program to get you back to all your pre-operation activities. We can also help you to get back out into the community.

The first three months after a TKR are important and it is during this period the greatest improvements can be made. Therefore, having some form of physical therapy is strongly advised.

An initial assessment with a TPC physio can help you determine what’s the best course of action for you. So if you are currently recovering from a TKR and feel like you could improve your strength and movement or you are planning to have one in the future, our physios can help guide you through a program to get the best outcome from your surgery.

Get in touch today with our caring support team on 1300 797 793 to find out how we can help.

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The Physio Co Cancellation Policy is as follows:

We require 3 hours notice otherwise the session will be charged at full cost. If the client cancels within 24 hours, the appointment will be charged at half price. Anything after 24 hours, there will be no charge. Medical reasons are of course exempt from the above, as long as we have been made aware one hour prior to the appointment. If you are ever unsure, please call the client care team at 1300 797 793.

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COMPANY NAME: THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
ADDRESS: 25 DORCAS STREET, SOUTH MELBOURNE, VIC, 3205
CONTACT DETAILS: 1300 797 793

This is Your Direct Debit Service Agreement with THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (ABN: 54120918854). It explains what Your obligations are when undertaking a Direct Debit arrangement with us It also details what our obligations are to You as Your Direct Debit provider. Please keep this agreement for future reference. It forms part of the terms and conditions of Your Direct Debit Request (DDR) and should be read in conjunction With Your DDR authorisation.

Definitions

account means the account held at Your financial institution from which we are authorised to arrange for funds to be debited
agreement means this ment Agreement between You and us.
banking day means a day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a public holiday listed throughout Australia.
debit day means the day that payment by You to us is due.
debit payment means a particular transaction where a debit is made.
direct debit request means the Direct Debit Request between us and You,
us or we means THE PHYSIO C0 AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, (the Debit User) You have authorised by requesting a Direct Debit Request.
You means the customer who has signed or authorised by other means the Direct Debit Request
Your financial institution means the financial institution nominated by You on the DDR at which the account is maintained

  1. Debiting Your account
    1. By signing a Direct Debit Request or by providing us with a valid instruction, You have authorised us to arrange for funds to be debited from Your account, You should refer to the Direct Debit Request and this agreement for the terms of the arrangement between us and You.
    2. We will only arrange for funds to be debited from Your account as authorised in the Direct Debit Request.
      Or
      We will only arrange for funds to be debited from Your account if we have sent to the address nominated by You in the Direct Debit Request, a billing advice which specifies the amount payable by You to us and when it is due,
    3. If the debit day falls on a day that is not a banking day, we may direct Your financial institution to debit Your account on the followrng banking day. If You are unsure about which day Your account has or will be debited You should ask Your financial institution.
  2. Amendments by us
    1. We may vary any details of this agreement or a Direct Debit Request at any time by giving You at least fourteen (14) days written notice
  3. Amendments by You
    You may change* , stop or defer a debit payment, or terminate this agreement by providing us with at least 30 days notification by writing to-
    THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
    25 DORCAS STREET, SOUTH MELBOURNE, VIC, 3205
    Or
    by telephoning us on 1300 797 793 during business hours;
    Or
    arranging it through Your own financial institution, which is required to act promptly on Your instructions.
    *Note: in relation to the above reference to ‘change’, Your financial institution may ‘change’ Your debit payment only to the extent of advising us THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD of Your new account details.
  4. Your obligations
    1. It is Your responsibility to ensure that there are sufficient clear funds available in Your account to allow a debit payment to be made in accordance with the Direct Debit Request.
    2. If there are insufficient clear funds in Your account to meet a debit payment:
      • You may be charged a fee and/or interest by Your financial institution;
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      • You must arrange for the debit payment to be made by another method or arrange for sufficient clear funds to be in Your account by an agreed time so that we can process the debit payment.
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    2. If we conclude as a result of our investigations that Your account has been incorrectly debited we Will respond to Your query by arranging for Your financial institution to adjust Your account (including interest and charges) accordingly. We Will also notify You in writing of the amount by which Your account has been adjusted
    3. If we conclude as a result of our investigations that Your account has not been incorrectly debited we Will respond to Your query by providing You with reasons and any evidence for this finding in writing.
  6. Accounts
    You should check:
    • with Your financial institution whether direct debiting is available from Your account as direct debiting is not available on all accounts offered by financial institutions.
    • Your account details which You have provided to us are correct by checking the against a recent account statement,- and
    • with Your financial institution before completing the Direct Debit Request if You have any queries about how to complete the Direct Debit Request.
  7. Confidentiality
    1. We will keep any information (including Your account details) in Your Direct Debit Request confidential. We will make reasonable efforts to keep any such information that we have about You secure and to ensure that any of our employees or agents who have access to information about You do not make any unauthorised use, modification, reproduction or disclosure of that information.
    2. We will only disclose information that we have about You:
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  8. Notice
    1. If You Wish to notify us in writing about anything relating to this agreement, You should write to
      THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
      25 DORCAS STREET, SOUTH MELBOURNE, VIC, 3205
    2. We Will notify You by sending a notice in the ordinary post to the address You have given us in the Direct Debit Request.
    3. Any notice will be deemed to have been received on the third banking day after posting.

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