Arthritis Therapy Post Procedure Treatment and General Care


After surgery or a traumatic injury, arthritis therapy is extremely essential for rehabilitation, in order to get you back to regular life as quickly as possible. Physical therapists have a good knowledge of body mechanics and understand the special needs of patients who have just undergone surgery. They can design specific exercises and workouts to speed up the recovery process during the arthritis therapy phase.

Post Procedure Care After Arthritis Therapy

It is necessary to exercise your joints after surgery to get you back on the road to recovery. After surgery or injury, scarring and stiffening of tissues can occur. It is necessary to exercise the affected area so that it does not limit your movements in any way during your long term therapy. Your therapist will mainly concentrate on stretching and muscle toning exercises for arthritic patients.

Arthritis Therapy Post Procedure Tip #1 – Stretching Exercises

Stretching exercises will help in preventing stiffening of muscles and tissues and will help maintain flexibility in your joints.

Arthritis Therapy Post Procedure Tip #2 – Muscle Strengthening Exercises

Muscle toning exercises help in strengthening muscles. This is especially necessary in arthritic patients as stiffening joints can put more strain on the muscles and make them more prone to wear and tear.

Arthritis Therapy Post Procedure Tip #3 – Massage or Thermal Treatment

You might be instructed to apply ice-packs or heat-pads on the affected areas to help relax the muscles and reduce inflammation and pain. A course of massage might also be recommended to relieve pain and stiffening of tissues.

Arthritis Therapy Post Procedure Tip #4 – Diet Recommendations

Although there is no specific diet for arthritis, a proper diet can help in keeping your weight down. Increased body weight can put more strain on the supportive muscles and joints and aggravate the condition.

Arthritis Therapy Post Procedure Tip #5 – Lifestyle Changes

Your physical and occupational therapist might advice some changes in your environment to help achieve economy of movement and to reduce the stress placed on your joints and muscles. They might also advice you on how to modify certain activities so that you use alternate muscles and not put too much strain on the affected and vulnerable parts of your body.

Certain external aids like shock absorbing shoes and splints to support your joints might also be prescribed.

Follow the Instructions Even After Recovery

Recovery after surgery or injury is a long and tedious process. Physical therapy for arthritis can help your rehabilitation, but it takes a lot of willpower to keep at it. But, if you are persistent, your recovery will be quicker and your life easier.

After the course of therapy is over and you are back to normal life, you still need to take care that you do not neglect any exercise regime or other advice given by your therapist. This is important to prevent a recurrence of your problem and to maintain the flexibility and use of your joints.

In case any of the pain or symptoms appears again, remember the instructions given for physical therapy when these symptoms first occurred. What were the steps you were told to follow to deal with them? In case you do not remember, call your therapist again to review them post arthritis therapy.

It is important to keep exercising your joints and muscles even after you have fully recovered, to maintain flexibility and to keep functioning normally.  Do not be lulled into a sense of complacency after you get back to normal life after treatment. You have to follow some basic work-out regime to maintain the use of your joints. Failure to continue doing your stretching exercises, for instance, might in time lead to stiffening of the joints again.

Follow your therapist’s instructions carefully and stick to the arthritis therapy exercise system and any dietary recommendations. If you have been asked to make any lifestyle changes, implement those too. All this will make your life easier and prevent any of the problems from appearing again. This will assure a longer life to your joints and muscles and make your life that much easier.


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