Week Four c

A patient came in post (R) TKR when I first started prac. She was told she had to reach 90 deg flexion by her specialist appointment. If she didn’t have the 90 deg she would have to have it MUA for the second time. She came in and told us she just needed to keep up with physio as it seems to be working for her. Her main goal was to jog down the street for a few meters. Since finding out about not having to be MUA she can run slightly and can ride on her bike. She is over the moon. I think it is times like these when you make the smallest easiest task able for a patient.
As well as having a prev MUA post TKR she went through an ORIF to the distal femur and was put in a Richard splint and told to come back in 20 years?!? – that’s when she opted for TKR.
I felt that I really wanted to help her achieve her goal. I have learnt that some knees respond to being pushed and pushed while others have so much muscle guarding that it makes them go backwards if you push them until the pain has settled and the muscle guarding has reduced. Our main techniques for this pt is more gentle and mainly using Passive physiological mvts, passive accessory mvts, massage and heat packs. Its nice to see a pt progress over a few weeks and get to their goal. Its really rewarding.
I have learnt a lot about TKR and how much they vary from patient to patient.