After Joint Replacement – Rehab is your key to recovery

By Dr. Frank J. Scerbo, PT, DPT, CSCS
Have you recently undergone a total joint replacement, or is there one in your future? If so, keep in mind that postoperative rehabilitation is of the utmost importance.  Here at Scerbo Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation, we are committed to helping you reach the goal of pain-free functioning for your new joint.

Surgical Procedure

Replacing a joint can reduce pain and help you move and feel better. Hips and knees are replaced most often. Other joints that can be replaced include the ankle, foot, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers.
Total joint replacement, or arthroplasty, represents a significant advance in the treatment of painful and disabling joint problems. Patients used to spend a week or longer in the hospital. Today, the average length of hospitalization is about 2-3 days. As shorter hospitalizations become more common, some patients are leaving the hospital on the same day as surgery.

Recovery

Recovery and time in the hospital are largely related to how well-prepared patients are before heading into surgery. Preoperative joint replacement education sessions and preparing your home ahead of surgery can make your recovery much faster. Scerbo physical therapists are specially trained to help you with both pre- and post-orthopedic surgery rehabilitation.

Post-op therapy has a different pace for each patient. Factors that will affect the rate of your progress include your strength before surgery, body weight, and ability to manage painful symptoms. The type and extent of surgery can also affect your ability to participate in physical therapy.

After receiving therapy at home, we recommend that you continue with more extensive rehab at a credited facility such as Scerbo. At our state-of-the-art facility in Edgewater, NJ, you will be working under the direct supervision of our highly trained physical therapists. Our treatment approach is centered around a hands-on, one-to-one care at each visit. We use modalities such as heat, cold, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, paraffin, mechanical traction and iontophoresis as needed to aid the treatment program.

Rehabilitation

Following surgery, we will help you regain normal strength of the muscles and improve your gait. This is extremely beneficial for athletes who want to get back to competitive sports such as Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Soccer, and Tennis. Our physical therapists and performance specialists help athletes of all ages and abilities get back to doing the sports they love.

For athletes and non-athletes alike, we utilize our many years of clinical experience to design individualized treatment programs. At Scerbo, our goal is to improve your quality of life by returning your joint to its highest attainable level of function.

We help get you back in the game. To schedule a screening and assessment call us at 201-941-2240 or visit us at our office in River Road, Edgewater, NJ.