5 Common Questions Patients Have After Their Knee Replacement
1. How long will my swelling last? Swelling is normal after a knee replacement. You may notice that your knee is large and discolored after surgery. Swelling is not something to worry about unless the swelling becomes excessive or is acompanied with a fever, redness, and unusual discharge from the incision. Most of the swelling will calm down in the first 12 weeks after surgery, but some swelling may be present up through a year after your surgery.
Stretch of the Week: Chair Lat Stretch
This week marks the half way point through the month. How are you feeling? Are you keeping up with your stretching? I hope so!
This week’s stretch is chair lat stretch. It’s a great one to do at work if you sit at a desk all day, so take a break! I sometimes will even do this stretch at my kitchen counter 🙂 The only contraindication for this stretch is if you have a shoulder injury where you can not raise the arm overhead without pain. In which case, please refrain from performing this weeks stretch.
Tips for Choosing a Good Physical Therapist
For a person who has never attended physical therapy, the first time can bring many questions. One question I hear or have been asked in the past is how do I choose a good physical therapist? Although there are no hard or fast rules when it comes to picking a physical therapist below are some suggestions that may assist you in your search.
Level of Education Required for a Physical Therapist
Patients often inquire how much schooling is required to become a physical therapist. Read below to learn about the level of education required for a Physical Therapist. (more…)
19 Ways to Relieve Muscular and Joint Pain on a 19-Hour Flight
I just got back from an amazing trip to the Philippines! The country, the culture, the people who live there were all fantastic! The airplane ride, however, was not so fantastic. I painfully scrunched myself in economy class, where my knees were especially angry with me on the way there. However, on the way back, I implemented these 19 ways to relieve pain on a 19-hour flight, and my body was very thankful! (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Dolphin Stretch
The last calf stretch of February is the Dolphin stretch. The Dolphin Stretch is a bonus stretch because it will get into the shoulders and the upper back as well as the calves! It’s very similar to the forearm stretch on the wall from week 2 in January if you want to go back and take a look, but we are taking it to the floor this week.
5 Ways Sleep Improves Athleticism
While increased amount of rest is common knowledge at higher levels of sport, it is commonly overlooked at lower levels. When it comes to improving athleticism in younger athletes, so much of the focus is put on strength training methods, diet, and supplementation, while little focus is put on sleep. There is a growing body of evidence that indicates that forgoing sleep might be a huge misstep.
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Stretch of the Week: Wall Calf Stretch
It’s week 3 of loving our calves, and this week is one of my favorite stretches! I call this the Wall Calf Stretch. It’s slightly an inversion (upside down) so please be careful if you have a blood pressure issue or get vertigo easily. For the Wall Calf Stretch you’ll probably need a little wall space. 🙂 (more…)
