PROVIDING IN-HOME PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DELAWARE

SEE IF YOUR AREA IS COVERED >>
X

Maintaining Joint Health: Long-Term Care After Total Joint Replacement

Mar20th 2025

We can help you make the most of rehabilitation after a total joint replacement.

Are you scheduled for a total joint replacement? Whether knee, hip, or another joint, these procedures are major surgeries–and they can have majorly long rehabilitation times. Fortunately, physical therapy with First State Rehab at Home can help you maximize that rehabilitation to improve your overall outcomes.

Depending on which joint is affected, several types of total joint replacements exist. Hip and knee replacements are the most common, and their prevalence is on the rise. Between 2000 and 2019, total hip replacements increased by 177% and total knee replacements by 156%!

Regardless of the type of joint replacement, the procedure takes a long time to fully rehabilitate. Most people won’t have full strength and mobility in the affected joint until a year after their surgery–or even longer, in some cases. While you can’t necessarily speed up rehabilitation, physical therapy will help you make the most of it.

However, one challenge of total joint replacement rehabilitation is actually getting to a physical therapy clinic to make your appointments! In the months immediately following your procedure, you’ll have extremely limited mobility, and driving and travel may be difficult.

At First State Rehab at Home, we understand these challenges–which is why we offer all of our rehabilitation services in the comfort of your own home. We’ll bring our knowledge, expertise, and necessary equipment to you so you can focus on what matters most: learning to use your new joint.

If you live in the Greater Wilmington, Newark, Bear, and Middletown areas of New Castle County Delaware, and have a total joint replacement surgery coming up, give us a call to learn more about your options!

Understanding Total Joint Replacement Surgeries

Several conditions can cause pain and immobility in your joints. If that impairment is intense enough and doesn’t respond to physical therapy or other treatment, a total joint replacement can offer relief and improved mobility and independence.

Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, is one of the most common reasons someone might decide to have a joint replacement. However, some people also undergo the procedure if they’ve damaged a joint due to an injury.

Regardless of the reason, the process is the same. An orthopedic surgeon will remove the damaged cartilage and bone and replace it with metal, plastic, or ceramic prostheses.

In a total hip replacement, surgeons replace both the “ball” and “socket” parts of the hip’s ball and socket joint. In total knee replacement, surgeons will replace the joint behind the kneecap. Other types of total joint replacement surgeries will function similarly, depending on whether they’re a hinge joint or a ball and socket joint.

Recovery is a lengthy process for these surgeries, but you can improve your outcomes by moving your new joint as much as possible in the weeks immediately following the procedure. As you build strength and range of motion, you’ll gradually incorporate more intense exercises until you have more mobility and less pain than you did before your surgery.

Physical Therapy’s Role in Long-Term Total Joint Replacement Rehabilitation

Physical therapy is an important factor throughout the surgical process, including pre-surgical exercises (“prehab”) to better prepare your body for the procedure and gentle mobility work during the healing phase immediately following your release from the hospital.

In fact, one way to improve long-term outcomes is to get moving early on. Patients who undergo prehab before a total hip replacement report a higher quality of life one year after the surgery, with less pain and fewer mental health complaints. Early exercise–as soon as a week after the surgery–helps improve physical outcomes by preventing the formation of scar tissue that can limit your range of motion.

First State Rehab at Home can help with these crucial early stages after your surgery. However, we can also help with actual long-term rehabilitation, too, including the following:

  • Strength Training: The muscles surrounding the affected joint will have weakened due to the underlying condition the surgery is addressing and the surgery itself. We’ll create a customized, progressive strength training program that starts where you’re at–and helps you see improvements over time.
  • Functional Training: After your surgery, you’ll be eager to return to your usual day-to-day activities. Our therapists will help you get there by “training” you in everyday tasks like taking the stairs or bustling across a busy street.
  • Return-to-Activity Schedules: Finally, you’ll want to know when you can return to more intense activities, such as work, sports, or other recreational activities. Our therapists will develop a return-to-activity plan that ensures you get back to your favorite activities safely. We can also help you with activity-specific training tailored to your interests and needs (such as climbing a ladder or kicking a soccer ball).

At-Home Physical Therapy: All the Benefits, None of the Inconveniences

The best thing about physical therapy with First State Rehab at Home is that we bring the rehabilitation to you! If you’re having to undergo a total joint replacement, chances are good that you have limited mobility–which will make it difficult for you to come out to a clinic. We’ll help you prepare for your procedure in the comfort of your home.

The same is true after your surgery. In the weeks immediately following the procedure, you’ll likely need to use a mobility aid (such as a cane or walker), making outpatient visits extremely difficult. We’ll ensure you don’t miss those crucial early-stage physical therapy sessions with our at-home services.

Learn More About Our Rehabiliation Programs!

At First State Rehab at Home, we want to see you thrive after your total joint replacement surgery. If you live in the Greater Wilmington, Newark, Bear, and Middletown areas of New Castle County Delaware and have a procedure coming up, request an at-home appointment with us today! Our therapists will help you develop a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, including prehab exercises and both short- and long-term rehabilitation programs.

No matter what joint you have replaced, we’re here to help!

Sources:

Tags: , , ,