Arthroplasty refers to a surgical procedure that reconstructs or realigns a dysfunctional joint, usually your knee, hip or shoulder. The surgery is designed to relieve pain and restore your range of motion in the joint, says SurgeryEncyclopedia.com. After surgery, it is important to move the joint through a series of exercises to maintain range of motion and increase strength.
Features
Arthroplasty will either be performed as a joint resection or interpositional joint reconstruction, according to SurgeryEncyclopedia.com. In a joint resection, the surgeon will increase the space between the bone and socket by removing a portion of bone from the affected joint. A reconstruction consists of a prosthetic disk made of plastic, metal or ceramic being added into the joint.
Shoulder Exercises
After a shoulder arthroplasty, a passive range of motion machine is often used to move the shoulder joint through an arc shortly after the surgery is completed to maintain the new range of motion, says the University of Washington. A pendulum exercise requires you bend at the waist and let your arm hang and move slowly from side to side. For a progressive forward lean, you will sit on a chair with your arm on a table beside you and slowly lean forward to feel the stretch. You can also pull the injured arm across your body and hold the stretch.
Knee Exercises
Exercises for arthroplasty of the knee will focus on strengthening and stabilizing the joint, says the Sports Med North website. Lie on your back and pump your ankle up and down by flexing and releasing. Slide your heel up the table slowly toward your buttocks, or place your ankle on a rolled up towel and gently press the back of your knee down into the table.
Hip Exercises
When performing arthroplasty exercises for your hip, the goal is to improve blood flow to your legs to avoid clotting, and strengthen and improve hip movement, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Lie on your back, raise your leg and make small circles with your ankles, contract and relax your buttock muscles, or work your abductor muscles by laying your legs flat on the floor and pulling them apart, then back together.
Considerations
It is important to exercise daily, and follow the direction of your doctors and physical therapist after arthroplasty of any type. Failure to follow directions may result in loss of mobility and strength in the joint.
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