Tip of the Week!

Total Hip and Total Knee replacement!



Total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) can be indicated in people suffering with severe joint pain, either due to arthritis or injury. Simple activities such as walking and going up and down stairs suddenly become difficult and people may even experience pain when sitting or lying down.

Medication, physiotherapy and use of mobility aids can help, but if they are no longer helpful, surgery may be the only option. The complication rate for each surgery is relatively low, however there are simple steps you can take to decrease the risk for post-operative complications even further! One of which is to QUIT SMOKING! In our Naas Physiotherapy Clinic we offer a unique and innovative treatment to help you stop smoking! Check out our Smoking Cessation Programme tab for more information on how you can QUIT SMOKING! Smoking increases the risk for postoperative pneumonia, wound infection, stroke and myocardial infarction. For an elective surgery, such as THR/TKR, there is a golden opportunity in the pre-operative period to stop smoking!

When quitting smoking, you will find your exercise tolerance and breathing improves. This will help with your pre-habilitation. Individuals who will be undergoing orthopaedic surgery would benefit from pre-habiltation. By improving a person’s functional capacity through increased physical activity before an anticipated orthopaedic procedure, they will maintain a higher level of functional ability and rebound more rapidly in the rehabilitation process after the surgery. This enhances the success of the procedure and the wellbeing of the person!

Exercise is a critical component of the post-operative care, particularly during the first few weeks after surgery. You should be able to resume most normal activities of daily living within 3 to 6 weeks following surgery. Some pain with activity and at night is common for several weeks after surgery. Your activity program should include:

•A graduated walking program to slowly increase your mobility, initially in your home and later outside

•Resuming other normal household activities, such as sitting and standing and climbing stairs

•A walking program to slowly increase your mobility and endurance.

•Specific exercises several times a day to restore movement and strengthen your knee/hip.

•You probably will be able to perform the exercises without help, but you may have a physical therapist help you at home or in a therapy center the first few weeks after surgery.


Contact the CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPISTS in the NAAS PHYSIOTHERAPY and SPORTS INJURY CLINIC for more information on how to Quit Smoking, to get an individually tailored pre-habilitation programme and for post-operative physiotherapy.