She’s trying to finish out her career before resorting to knee replacement and we’re glad to help! Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common problem and is becoming more common over time due to our aging population overall. While knee replacement is a great alternative for most, the lengthy rehabilitation process, time off work, and other factors, make it the wrong option for some.
History
She came a year ago for treatment of the other knee, and was able to improve her ability to get around, her balance, and her overall function while reducing her pain. The same was true this year when she asked that I take care of the other knee.
Treatment
We started her rehabilitation by using manual techniques (stretching and joint mobilization) to reduce a knee flexion contracture, while starting her on a light program of strength training and agility work. As she became accustomed to her program, I became more aggressive with her manual therapy, strength training and functional training, using heat and an electrical stimulator to reduce her pain and allow her to perform more rehabilitation each session than she otherwise might have been able to do.
Outcome
Her ability to walk was increased significantly. Her score on the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) also improved, she did not have to miss work, and is able to continue doing her job as she works toward retirement.
See Hal’s Story for more information about the services we provide to increase the mileage you’ll get out of your arthritic knees.
