These 5 quadriceps exercises help build strength and encourage healing after knee replacement. The exercises will get progressively more difficult as your quad tendon heals and pain diminishes.

Before scheduling knee surgery, ask these questions to help you choose a surgeon, decrease the chances of potential complications, and set expectations for pain control and physical therapy during recovery. Being well informed can help improve your chances of a smooth surgery and recovery.

Before you schedule hip replacement surgery, ask these 6 questions to help you understand the procedure, the potential risks, and what your recovery will probably look like. Being informed can increase the likelihood that your surgery goes smoothly and your expectations are met.

References

• 1.Katz JN et al. Association between hospital and surgeon procedure volume and outcomes of total hip replacement in the United States Medicare population*. J Bone Joint Surg 83. (2001 Nov);11:1622-1629.
• 2.Rajan Anand, Stephen E. Graves, Richard N. de Steiger, David C. Davidson, Philip Ryan, Lisa N. Miller, Kara Cashman, What is the Benefit of Introducing New Hip and Knee Prostheses? The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (Am.), Dec 2011; 93 (Supplement_3); 51-54. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.K.00867
• 3.Harkess, JW and Crockarell, JR Jr. Arthroplasty of the Hip. Campbell’s Operative Orthopedics, 13th edition. Philidelphia, PA. Elsevier, 2017: 167-321.

Recovery from hip replacement surgery can vary from person to person. Learn general how you may use pain medications, participate in physical therapy, and get back to your routine after surgery.

There are several things you can do before hip replacement surgery to make your recovery easier. Read these recommendations and talk to your surgeon about how to prepare.

References

• 1.Torisho C, Mohaddes M, Gustafsson K, Rolfson O. Minor influence of patient education and physiotherapy interventions before total hip replacement on patient-reported outcomes: an observational study of 30,756 patients in the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register. Acta Orthop. 2019;90(4):306–311. doi:10.1080/17453674.2019.1605669
• 2.Mancuso et al. Fulfillment of Patients' Expectations for Total Hip Arthroplasty. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 2009 Sep;91(9):2073-2078.

What are some potential advantages and disadvantages to consider before choosing to have an outpatient hip replacement?

References

• 1.Otero JE, Gholson JJ, Pugely AJ, Gao Y, Bedard NA, Callaghan JJ. Length of Hospitalization After Joint Arthroplasty: Does Early Discharge Affect Complications and Readmission Rates? J Arthroplasty. 2016 Dec;31(12):2714-2725. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2016.07.026. Epub 2016 Aug 9. PubMed PMID: 27600301.
• 2.Lovald ST, Ong KL, Malkani AL, et al. Complications, mortality, and costs for outpatient and short-stay total knee arthroplasty patients in comparison to standard-stay patients. J Arthroplasty 2014;29(3):510.
• 3.Kelly MP, Calkins TE, Culvern C, Kogan M, Della Valle CJ, Inpatient versus Outpatient Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Which has higher patient satisfaction?, The Journal of Arthroplasty (2018), doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2018.07.025.

Surgeons often advise patients to lose weight before knee replacement surgery. For people who are very overweight, losing just 20 pounds may help improve their recovery.

References

• 1.Keeney BJ, Austin DC, Jevsevar DS. Preoperative Weight Loss for Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2019 Aug 21; 101 (16): 1440. DOI 10.2106/JBJS.18.01136

Most joint replacements last years without any problems. But as joint replacement patients get younger, an increasing number of people may need a second joint replacement, known as a joint revision surgery.

References

• 1.Revision rates after total joint replacement: cumulative results from worldwide joint register datasets. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2011 Mar;93(3):293-7.

Our Forums moderator shares about the difficult but rewarding process of recovering from shoulder replacement surgery.

Under certain conditions, your doctor may recommend a shoulder replacement surgery that reverses the positions of the ball and socket, known as a reverse shoulder replacement. Learn what those conditions are.