When does "pushed" ROM become "real" ROM

[missyc]

Hello everyone, I'm almost 4 months BTKR and getting pretty good ROM in PT, with pushing from the therapist. On my own, I get 15-20 degrees less than he can get. So my question is: when does what I can do on my own "catch up" to what the therapist can do? There are many things I find I can't do with the ROM that I get on my own (hopefully this makes sense).

And, since we're on the topic, does anyone know of anyone who's managed to be able to sit on their heels after TKR? It seems like it's not going to be possible, ever.

Thanks,
Melissa

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Melissa -

It toally makes sense to me. The PT breaks out in a sweat when we Push for rom - We can get 125-128 when he is pushing and the office manager is under the table pulling -(Once it was the PT, the office manager and the assistant pt- what a sight!) And my PT is a really well built guy - very athletic. When it is just him and I he can get it to 120 and I can now get it to 115 on my own - almost. Using the total gym I can bend to 120 - most days. We moved my appoints to the afternoon this week so the assisnt pt would be there for the final 2 days of pt - We are trying for 130 this weeka and he thinks we can get it if Deanna is there to help. We found a way to push it soo it doesn't angle in to my hip socket the wrong way.

As far as normal rom - I think that comes with time. i find that at school and on the stairs at home I am naturally bending much more. i find the leg bent naturally while sitting and I don't even realize it. Life is returning to normal. i am doing the treadmill as much as my hip will tolerate and my gait is really much improved as far as the natural knee bend. it will come naturally. i really believe that our bodies sort of just go - "OK - time to get back to normal" and there we are!

Hang in!

Marianne

 

[beachcomber]

Melissa,
What exactly do you mean by "sit on their heels"? Are you talking about kneeling on your knee and sitting back on your heels-- or crouching down on your feet?

Actually, I think both are possible and have been done by "vets" on this forum, although kneeling on the scar gives many the "willies" just to think about.

Other than running and jumping--- most anything else is possible (you *can* do those, but it can damage your new knee). Most activities depend on what you want to accomplish and how hard you are willing to work on it and for how long. None of it will come back like magic.



Melissa asked: And, since we're on the topic, does anyone know of anyone who's managed to be able to sit on their heels after TKR? It seems like it's not going to be possible, ever.

 

[Rowdy66]

Everyone seems to go through this pushing to get ROM by the PT. I didn't have anyone doing that. To be quite honest, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Are they doing it to help you or to get their numbers up? Like I said I have no personal experience with this so I don't know why they do it and would like to know. Sounds like they are torturing you not helping you gain something. Rowdy

 

[missyc]

Thanks for these responses so far! What I mean by sitting on the heels is kneeling and then sitting back so your butt rests on your heels. Again, it seems like it's not possible but I'd love to know if anyone has achieved it.

As for the pushing, according to my PT it creates space and eventually you can bend into that space on your own. I guess I'm beginning to have my doubts about the degree to which this works.

And -- this is probably for another thread -- but my OS says I can run pretty much as much as I want to. In fact, he believes I can do this and still outlive my knee and I'm 40.

 

[beachcomber]

Wow- I'm surprised about the "running-is-ok" comment by your OS. I haven't heard that one before.

I guess that technically the metal in your knee would outlive you--- but I thought running/jumping speeds the loosening process that causes people to need a revision somewhere down the road.

Jo--- what do you think about this?

 

[Josephine]

Far be it for me to argue with a surgeon - would be nice work if you can do it!

 

[Linda2]

I think that the "pushing" rom becomes "real" rom when your quads and hamstrings regain strength and balance between them.

 

[Simon]

Hello

I am at 5 monts. At 4 months, the PT was pushing it but I don;t think he every got overly aggressive trying to reach the number, he just wanted to make sure I would avoid MUA when I saw the doctor in mid November. When he really pushes it we get only an extra 3 or 4 degrees. At 5 months, I can almost reach what he was getting at 4 months.

I think your PT comment about space is correct as that is what they are trying to do. Mine also spends alot of time stretching quads, hip flexors and hamstrings as they are so tight and that limits ROM.

I just ride the bike everyday (and have managed to drop the seat 2 more notches in the last month), do my exercises and stretch. I am more than happy where things are at and just don't want to loose it.

Simon