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Physical therapy helps knee surgery patients leave same day

Rehab Private Practice Alert, January 4, 2006

A recent study by the Rush University Medical Center published in the Journal for Arthroplasty found that 96% of patients who underwent minimally invasive total knee replacement surgery were able to go home the same day.

The study found that physical therapy was one of the main reasons these patients were able to walk out unassisted or with just a cane in many cases.

PTs help patients strengthen the surrounding muscles and learn to use crutches or a cane.

Nursing intervention, improved anesthesia, and improved surgery techniques also helped patients recover quicker.

The study looked at 50 patients with an average age of 68. An OT and a PT saw the patients after surgery, and the patient had to be able to get in and out of bed independently, walk 100 feet, and walk up and down a full flight of stairs in order to go home.

The patients then received home physical therapy until they could drive and then outpatient therapy until recovery was complete.

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