Total Knee Replacement.

What is total knee Replacement?

Total knee replacement(TKR) is also called Total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It is performed in elderly individuals who have pain in knee and due to which difficulty in performing day to day activities as simple as walking. As the name suggests it means replacing the degenerated parts of the knee joint with artificial knee. As we age there is degeneration of the joints and bone which leads to reduced daily activities and many remain bed ridden because of same.

Why is Total Knee Replacement surgery done?

Why is Total knee replacement done?

1) Severe Joint pain while standing or walking.

2) Destruction of the knee articular cartilage which maybe due to late stage arthritis.

3) Deformity of Knee such as genu Valium or genu varum

4) Instability or loss of movement of knee such as knee bending gets limited.

What is the recovery time for Total knee replacement?

With good Physiotherapy and medicinal care the patient can start doing activities of daily life on their own with two weeks. The pain usually reduces in the first four weeks but it may take up to 6 months for the pain and swelling to completely go away.

What is the role of Physiotherapy in TKR?

Patients are in a lot of pain immediately after the surgery. To get them back to actions such as start walking independently without the walker  to teach them to climb stairs to explain about the importance of sitting on a heighted chair atleast 21 inches.

Our Physiotherapist have carefully designed exercises and protocol for recovery. The first four weeks are extremely important for the patients rehabilitation.  Physiotherapy starts the day or next day the patients get out of the hospital and last from 4 weeks to 6 weeks depending on the patients needs.

What are the charges of Physiotherapy in for TKR in MumbaiPhysios?.

It usually ranges anywhere between 900 to 1500 depending on the condition that is being treated.  It may also vary from the expertise and experience of our Physiotherapist.

Rehabilitation Protocol:

1) Explaining the importance of making the bed height and chair height and washroom height to 21 inches.

2) The patients starts walking on the first day itself due to the advanced surgical procedures today. We aim at walking them independently from day 4 to day 7. It is very important to teach the patient the correct way to do transfers to avoid any complications.

3) Each day we have designed targets and goals for the recovery

4) Before the patients starts walking without the walker it is important to strengthen their quadriceps so they don't feel unstable while walking. Therapist may have to use machines or exercises such as static quads or decline quads for the same.

5) Training For straight leg raise: It is important that the patient has strong SLR before the two weeks.

6) Knee bending: The goal is to reach 90 degrees around the first two weeks. And Then gradually increase to 110 degrees later after stitch removal.

7) Hot fomentation Before the Physio session and Ice pack after the exercises.

8) Working on stretching. The muscles around the knee go into tightening after the surgery hence implementation of stretches based on the tight muscle

9) Increase the strength of the knee muscles and muscles of the surrounding joints to make the patient confident.

10) Teaching stair climbing and helping them walk confidently in environments other then 

their home.