Tag Archives: physical therapy

Relieving Ankle Pain with Joint Fusion

If you suffer from a painful arthritic ankle joint and your physician has suggested a procedure called arthrodesis , you may be confused. Simply put, an arthrodesis fuses the bones that form a joint, making it one continuous bone and permanently stiffening the joint. The procedure is used when pain, disability or instability from a […]

Knee Replacement Surgery: Before and After

Many patients believe that a physical therapy regimen follows joint replacement surgery, but exercise before surgery can reap many benefits afterward. Think about it: The pain in your knee has probably rendered you less active. Less activity causes the muscles—in this case, those in the thighs and hips that directly and indirectly support your bad […]

Avoid Spraining Your Ankle Again

Sprained ankles may be common, but they can lead to long-term problems. A European study found that up to 75% of the sprains incurred by professional soccer players occurred in ankles with previous sprains or instability. Another study reported that up to 40% of people who had previously sustained an acute ankle sprain were likely […]

Reducing Surgical Screw Complications

To fix a broken bone internally into position and support it until it is able to bear weight, surgeons have turned to new materials such as stainless steel, cobalt and titanium, which are compatible with the body and rarely cause allergic reaction or implant failures. While metal screws made from these materials are widely used, […]

Flexing Your Flexor Tendons After Surgery

Because recovery from surgery to repair flexor tendons (the tendons that control the movement of your fingers) can be challenging and slow, many people become frustrated after about two months. Why does it take so long to regain the ability to fully bend or straighten your finger? For one thing, effective rehabilitation requires patience and […]

Weight-bearing Following Total Knee Replacement

How much weight will you be allowed to place on your leg after total knee replacement surgery? This is a very important question, the answer to which depends on a number of factors. Weight-bearing following the surgery may be partial or full, depending on the surgeon’s approach. A critical part of the question is whether […]

Lubricating Your Arthritic Knee

A decade ago, individuals who had osteoarthritis of the knee were limited in their options for treatment: anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, reduced activity or surgery. Viscosupplementation, a relatively new treatment involving injections of a lubricating substance called hyaluronan, has become available for patients who suffer from this painful condition or who are unable to tolerate […]

Lifting Weights Following Breast Cancer Surgery

In the past, breast cancer survivors were told not to lift anything even moderately heavy—not a bag of groceries, not a suitcase, not their children. They also were warned against using their arms strenuously— no scrubbing floors or raking leaves. The thinking behind these prohibitions was that exercising the arms could increase the chance of […]

Strengthening Your “Heart” Following Angioplasty

People who have undergone angioplasty followed by stent placement generally have better blood supply to the heart muscle than do other people. That increased blood supply means that you should be able to participate in more physical activity than you did before the procedure. Not only is exercise safer than it was before your angioplasty […]

Getting Into the Swing for Tennis Season

Anyone for tennis? If winter has you longing for court time, you can pump up your enthusiasm—and reduce your chances of injury—by starting a fitness program before you touch a racquet. And it is not just about your swing. Effective preseason preparation includes a foundation of aerobic conditioning, strength training and skill drills. By increasing […]