Category: Surgery

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Heads Up on a Total Hip Replacement

The hip functions as a ball and socket joint. The top of the femur (thigh bone) fits into the acetabulum (part of the pelvis) to form this “ball and socket” that can move in many different planes of motion. Common signs and symptoms of the need for a total hip replacement or arthroplasty (THR or THA) are severe, limiting pain in the front of the hip or groin area or on the side of the hip, deep aching or throbbing with increased activity, pain that radiates down the side or front of the leg, weakness of the leg causing tripping or falling, walking with a limp, no relief of symptoms with conservative measures such as physical therapy for pain management and strengthening or anti-inflammatory injections and/or medications. These signs and symptoms can be as a result of joint deterioration from osteoarthritis or other issues such as trauma or avascular necrosis (loss of blood flow to the femur or “ball” of the joint). Continue reading “Heads Up on a Total Hip Replacement”

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It’s Called a Rotator Cuff and SOMETIMES It Needs Repaired…

rotator cuff injury

I’ve heard the muscles of the shoulder called many things including “rotary cup or rotor cup,” but the correct term is actually rotator cuff, and it is a very commonly treated area of the body. Whether torn or sprained, pre or post-surgery, the diagnosis of rotator cuff injury comes across my desk frequently as a physical therapist.

What a rotator cuff is and what can make it hurt:

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that work to stabilize the shoulder joint when you move your arm. In other words, they hold the ball in the socket. Probably their most important job is to keep the ball of the joint from being raised up too high, causing the rotator cuff to be pinched or impinged by the top of the shoulder joint. This joint is also known as the acromion (or that bony point on the top of your shoulder). Continue reading “It’s Called a Rotator Cuff and SOMETIMES It Needs Repaired…”

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All You Need to Know About Total Knee PT

The knee is the most commonly replaced joint in the body. Total knee replacement surgery, also known as total knee arthroplasty (TKA), is usually performed as a result of symptomatic osteoarthritis and/or degenerative joint disease due to bone on bone contact between the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone). A TKA typically involves removing the bottom of the femur and the top of the tibia and replacing them with titanium alloy and polyethylene components.

Rehabilitation following TKA will typically start on the same day as surgery and last up to 16 weeks. Continue reading “All You Need to Know About Total Knee PT”