The Importance of Exercise After Joint Replacement Surgery

Joint replacement surgery offers the chance to improve your mobility and ease your joint pain. For many who’ve lived with chronic joint pain for years, surgery brings a measurable improvement in quality of life. Hip replacement and knee replacement are among the most common procedures. 

Choosing the right surgeon is an essential part of the process, and for many residents of Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Cookeville, Tennessee, and the surrounding region, Robert J. Otto, MD, is the surgical specialist of choice. 

Once you’ve found a great joint replacement surgeon and scheduled your procedure, it’s time to think about the role exercise will play in your recovery process. Without proper movement, your healing time can be longer than you’d like, and all of the improvements made possible through joint replacement can be threatened. 

Balancing rest and exercise

Surgery takes a toll on your body, no matter what type of joint replacement procedure you need. Your overall health at the time of surgery plays a significant role in shaping how your body will adapt, as does your lifestyle choices in areas like tobacco use and nutrition. 

Rest is essential after surgery. Your body needs a chance to recharge and launch a swift healing response. But too much downtime can create challenges. It’s also critical to begin exercising soon after your joint replacement procedure. 

Finding the right balance between rest and exercise isn’t always easy. There will be days when you feel exhausted and don’t want to go through your physical therapy exercises. 

There might be other days when you feel you’re ready to push the boundaries and exercise more than advised. It’s important to listen to the guidance provided by Dr. Otto to stay on track. 

Why exercise is so important after joint replacement

The human body is designed to move. Movement is critical to our health and survival. The human musculoskeletal system is built to enable and facilitate movements ranging from a simple shift of balance while standing to breaking into a full run. 

Surgery alters a portion of your tissue. Joint replacement removes damaged joint components and replaces them with materials that allow you to move without pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion. But simply replacing a damaged joint is just the first part of the process. The steps you take in physical therapy and on your own at home will shape your recovery. 

When it comes to healing after surgery, staying active is an absolute necessity. Your body needs movement to keep your circulation functioning at peak levels. This allows your tissues to get the nourishment they need from fresh blood. Oxygenated blood is also a big factor in reducing inflammation and regenerating new tissue. 

Exercise helps strengthen the muscles around your new joint

Targeted exercise allows you to build new muscle tissue that supports your replacement joint. Those muscles are necessary to keep your joint moving properly and reduce your risk of further joint damage. 

Getting stronger will also help you improve your balance and agility. You don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from strength training, and it doesn’t matter how old you are when you have your joint replacement procedure. Strong muscles support healthy joints. 

In the months leading up to surgery, many people can’t exercise properly due to significant pain and issues with mobility. You might find yourself feeling weak after minimal physical exertion or experiencing more frequent stumbles and falls. 

Adhering to Dr. Otto’s physical therapy suggestions is the best way to get your muscles in shape and ready to support your replaced joint. 

If you’re considering joint replacement and would like to learn more about what to expect and what your recovery process might look like, don’t hesitate to reach out to Robert J. Otto, MD, to schedule a visit at the office location most convenient for you. We’re always happy to speak to you by phone, and you can request an appointment using our simple online booking tool.