Joint Replacement and Rehabilitation

Joint Treatment Services

We offer orthopedic care services that help get you back in motion from joint rehabilitation therapy to joint replacements.

View our joint treatment services below to find out how OrthoNeuro can help you and learn more about our team of highly skilled joint physicians and surgeons.

Total Hip Replacement

Total hip replacement surgery is a procedure that removes the bone and cartilage of the hip that has been damaged due to arthritis and replaces them with metal and plastic components.

These components mimic the anatomy and function of a healthy hip so that you can return to activities without the pain caused by arthritis.

The procedure is one of the most well-known and most effective in orthopedic surgery because it dramatically improves hip pain and quality of life.

Total Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement (also known as total knee arthroplasty) is a procedure that removes the bone and cartilage of the knee that has been damaged due to arthritis and replaces them with metal and plastic components.

These components mimic the anatomy and function of a healthy knee so that you can return to activities without the pain caused by arthritis.

Knee replacements are one of the most well-known and most effective procedures in orthopedic surgery because it dramatically improves knee pain and quality of life.

Partial Knee Replacement

Partial knee replacement is a procedure that removes the bone and cartilage of the knee that has been damaged due to arthritis and replaces them with metal and plastic components. These components mimic the anatomy and function of a healthy knee so that you can return to activities without the pain caused by arthritis.

This procedure differs from a total knee replacement in that only the damaged bones of the knee are removed and replaced.

In many cases, arthritis will only affect one side (also known as a “compartment”) of the knee. Therefore, only that compartment needs to be replaced, and the undamaged portion of the knee can remain intact.

Robotic-Assisted Partial Knee Replacement

For people suffering from knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, whose damage is limited to a single compartment or area of the knee, robotic-assisted partial knee replacement may be an option because it preserves healthy bone and ligaments while replacing the damaged area.

The NAVIO Surgical System uses robotics-assisted technology to help tailor partial knee replacement procedures to the unique shape and motion of each patient’s knee anatomy.

Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Replacement

More than 600,000 total knee replacement procedures are performed each year in the U.S., and more than 90% of these patients experience dramatic relief in knee pain and are better able to perform everyday activities.

The NAVIO Surgical System delivers robotics-assisted tools designed to help tailor your robotic knee replacement surgery to the unique shape and motion of your knee.

Total Ankle Replacement

Total ankle replacement, also known as total ankle arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure used to remove the arthritic portions of the ankle ligament and replace them with metal and plastic components. 

These components mimic the function of a healthy ankle joint and allow for increased mobility and reduced pain. An ankle replacement may be recommended to treat severe osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis that does not respond to nonsurgical treatment.

Total Shoulder Replacement

Total shoulder replacement is a surgical procedure that removes osteoarthritic bone and replaces it with metal and plastic components. These components mimic the anatomy and function of a healthy shoulder so that you can return to activities without the pain caused by arthritis.

Total shoulder replacement is very effective at restoring range of motion and improving quality of life. The procedure may be performed on an outpatient basis, although an overnight hospital stay is necessary.

Reverse Shoulder Replacement

A reverse shoulder replacement is a procedure mainly performed on older patients who suffer rotator cuff tear arthropathy.

Rotator cuff arthropathy is a medical condition where the muscles around the shoulder, also known as rotator cuff muscles, are so weak and degenerated that the shoulder is no longer stable enough to be held intact or function properly with arthritis.

Common Questions

How Long Does It Take for a Joint Replacement to Heal?

Many factors determine how long it takes to recover from a joint replacement, and each patient will heal differently. Factors include your fitness levels before the surgery, your age, your diet, preexisting health or physical conditions, as well as other health and lifestyle factors.

The following is a general guide to the estimated recovery time for each joint and the time between each stage of recovery:

Knee Replacement

Patients can usually leave the hospital within 5 to 14 days after knee replacement surgery.

After 12 weeks, most patients will walk with minimal assistance or no assistance using only over-the-counter pain relievers. Full recovery, the return to normal activities, is usually achieved within 3 to 6 months.

Hip Replacement

You can expect to go home from the hospital within 3-4 days after surgery.

Most patients can walk on the same day or the day after surgery. Other hip movements are possible, but you should listen to your body and not perform any activities that cause pain.

You can expect to return to normal activities between 3-6 weeks. If your job involves heavy lifting, you may need a few more weeks to build up your strength.

You should be able to drive again after six weeks, although getting in and out of the car may be difficult. To help, you could ease yourself backward before swinging your legs in.

Shoulder Replacement

Your hospital stay will usually last just a couple of days after surgery. You will be sent home with your arm in a sling. You will use this for the first 2-4 weeks of recovery.

For the first month, you will have less arm function. You should not lift anything over a pound and avoid activities that involve pushing or pulling.

You will be able to resume some light activities between 2 and 6 weeks, though you will not be able to drive until the six weeks are completed.

Full recovery usually takes up to 6 months. Only then will you be able to return to activities that require exertion on the shoulder, such as golf or swimming.

As with all joint replacements, working on your fitness before surgery will help the recovery process after surgery.

Is Physical Therapy Required after Total Joint Replacement Surgery?

Physical therapy is very important following hip and knee replacements and other total joint replacement surgery. Soon after surgery, scar tissue will start to form around the joint, and the surrounding muscles will begin to weaken.

Physical therapy will help prevent scar tissue from restricting your range of motion. It will also aid in strengthening the surrounding muscles.

Performing exercises will also keep the blood flowing around the joint. This is essential to avoid blood clots and will aid in healing.

The following list highlights some other benefits of performing physical therapy after joint replacement surgery:

• Reduce pain
• Reduce inflammation
• Maintain circulation
• Restore joint strength and mobility
• Strengthen surrounding muscles
• Eliminate stiffness in the joints and muscles
• Improve your balance
• Regain your normal gait
• Recovering your ability to perform previous movements and activities

Do You Have to Go to Rehab after Joint Replacement Surgery? 

The majority of your rehabilitation work will be done at home. However, it is advised that you see a physical therapist to learn specific exercises that will help you return to normal activities. They will also keep track of your progress and offer more advanced exercises as you regain strength and range of motion.

Rehab usually begins immediately after surgery. Your physical therapist will first help you learn movements you should avoid to protect your joint while your body heals and strengthens.

If you’ve had a hip or knee replacement, you will also learn to walk using either crutches or a walker. Your physical therapist will also teach you some basic exercises to improve range-of-motion and strengthening exercises that you can do either sitting in a chair or lying in bed.

Before you are sent home, you will learn some home exercises. These will help you to improve your strength, range of motion, and balance. Follow-ups with the physical therapist will help keep track of your progress so that the exercises can progressively increase demands on your body.

They may also help you with activity-specific rehabilitation to help prepare your joints for specific movements for work or sports.

If you follow the advice of your physical therapist diligently, then by the end of your rehabilitation period, you should be ready to return to your normal daily activities with maybe a few exceptions on some high-impact activities.