Joints in Action

You and your doctor have decided the time is right for joint replacement surgery. Whether it’s your knee or hip, it seems other treatment options just aren’t working anymore. The good news is that joint replacement surgeries for the knee and hip have improved drastically over the past 10 years – and they continue to do so. It’s not just the technology, equipment or surgical procedures that have advanced. It’s the care before and after your surgery that helps pave the way to healing. If you want to make your recovery from orthopedic surgery go as quickly as possible, investing time in rehabilitation – or prehab – may be the answer.

What Is Prehab?

Prehab involves strengthening the body and enhancing functional capabilities, range of motion and stamina by doing cardio exercises and resistance training, as well as flexibility and functional training. Another important component includes educating you about what to do and not do before and after surgery. During prehab, you’ll work with a physical therapist to create a personalized plan based on goals set by your orthopedic surgeon.

The Advantages of Prehab

The goal of prehab is to improve your chances for a fuller recovery without aggravating your current condition. In general, the fitter you are before surgery, the more likely you are to rehab more quickly and effectively after surgery. Studies have shown that people who do prehab get back to their daily activities faster and more easily than people who don’t. In addition to reducing the amount of postsurgery rehabilitation needed, prehab may lessen post-operative pain, reduce complications and even shorten hospital stays. 
 

What Our Prehab Program Includes

• 4 sessions (Wednesdays at 1:00 at the physical therapy gym located inside the hospital on the second floor from the front lobby entrance)
• Individualized exercise program (differing exercises for hip and knee replacements)
• Rolling Walker Education and Fitting
• Stair Training
• Adaptive ADL equipment and training (leg lifter, shoe horn, long-handled sponge, reacher)
• Education on what to expect from your joint replacement, typical healing timelines, what to expect after surgery, precautions and safety guidelines after surgery

Taking advantage of this FREE program can help with overall healing. Investing the time in effort for (4) weeks can reduce inflammation in the joint. It can improve blood flow in the area, strengthen the muscles supporting the joint and allow a greater range of motion. The better the joint is functioning before surgery, the stronger, and faster, your recovery is likely to be after the operation.

Get Started

To enroll in our program, call us at (706) 282-4461. We're located at 163 Hospital Drive, Toccoa, GA. We're excited to meet you!