Why Depend on Us for Joint Replacement Rehabilitation?We're dedicated to getting you back on your feet as safely and quickly as possible after your knee or hip replacement surgery. You should choose us because:We're part of Maryland's top joint replacement program. More patients in Maryland choose Luminis Health for joint replacement surgery. That kind of volume gives us a wealth of experience guiding patients like you through recovery.Our physical therapists specialize in joint replacement. Helping people who've had joint replacement surgery achieve optimal results is our sole focus. Because of that narrow focus, our physical therapists are experts in all aspects of recovery after joint replacement. We use all types of treatment techniques, including hands-on techniques, to help improve movement in your joint. And we advise you on wound care, post-op precautions and how to safely resume activity. Plus we'll customize a rehab program specifically for you. Altogether, this gives you the best chance of reaching your goals for life after your surgery.We'll work seamlessly with the rest of your care team. Unlike other clinics, our physical therapists stay in touch with your surgeon. This ensures you get the most appropriate care during each stage of your recovery. We can securely send photos of your incision to your surgeon through your electronic chart. We'll also work closely with the nurse navigator who coordinates your care.We'll help you connect with patients like yourself. Research shows that patients who take part in group rehabilitation end up better off than those who attend traditional rehab. For example, they report less pain, have greater range of motion in the joint and experience increased quadriceps strength, too. We've suspended knee and hip replacement groups during COVID, but we plan to offer them again soon.We have clinics in many locations. Because you can choose from any of our clinics, you won't have to travel too far for rehab.
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Conditions/Services/Treatments Page
Joint Replacement Physical Therapy
We help you prepare for and recover after hip or knee replacement surgery. We offer an outpatient home safety assessment prior to your surgery and one to two post-op home visits to help you transition back to your home, along with personalized exercise programs. Following your in-home visits, you're scheduled in one of our outpatient physical therapy clinics for the remainder of your post-op therapy.Physical Therapy for Joint ReplacementPain and stiffness from advanced hip or knee arthritis can bring your active life to a grinding halt. And while joint replacement surgery can restore your ability to move pain free, it takes work on your part to get the most benefit.The physical therapists in our joint replacement program are pros at coaching you through the process. We'll get you in shape for surgery and create a safe, personalized post-op exercise program to shorten your recovery time. The exercises play a key role in strengthening muscles, improving balance and regaining maximum range of motion.
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General Page - Tier 2
Luminis Health's mission is to enhance the health status of the people we serve by providing patients with compassionate, high quality services that will help alleviate pain, preserve health and extend life. If you have concerns about patient care or safety in our hospital please contact the Patient Relations Office at 301-552-8118 for LHDCMC and 443-481-6890 for LHAAMC to discuss those concerns.To ensure our mission Luminis Health regularly participates in a national accreditation process conducted by the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare (The Joint Commission). The Joint Commission will conduct unannounced accreditation surveys of Luminis Health to evaluate the organization's compliance with nationally established Joint Commission standards. The Joint Commission standards deal with organizational quality of care issues and the safety of the environment in which care is provided. If after working with the Patient Relations Office, you feel your care and safety issues have not been resolved, you may report patient safety concerns to The Joint Commission online or use the contact information below:The Joint Commission Fax: 630-792-5636Mail: Office of Quality and Patient SafetyThe Joint CommissionOne Renaissance BoulevardOakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181 Joint Commission website
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Men's Health, Physical Therapy, Senior Care, Women's Health, Wellness
General Page Tier 3
How to Garden with Hand Arthritis
Blog
If you love to garden, you’re not alone. Almost 75 percent of all U.S. households work on their lawn and garden, according to a 2016 National Gardening Survey.
While it may seem like a chore to some, working in your garden can actually be good for both your mind and body. Benefits include exposure to Vitamin D and stress relief, to name just a few.
But what if you’re one of the 50 million Americans who have arthritis? According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are more than 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions that cause joint pain. Two of the most common are degenerative and inflammatory arthritis.
Degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) involves degeneration of joint cartilage, causing joint pain, stiffness and loss of mobility in hands and wrists. Inflammatory arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when uncontrolled inflammation leads to joint erosion.
The type of arthritis you have determines how you manage it. But arthritis doesn’t have to keep you from enjoying a day in your garden. Getting your hands dirty without extra pain can be as simple as working smarter, not harder.
Here are some tips for a more enjoyable gardening season:
Listen to your doctor or therapist’s advice to manage pain.
Make your garden easier to access. For example, raise your garden beds so they’re easier to reach. Choose low-maintenance plants, such as perennials instead of annuals.
Choose tools and equipment that encourage good body mechanics and minimize strain. Examples include lightweight tools, tools with ergonomic handles and gloves to protect and cushion joints.
Modify your activity in the garden as necessary. Switch tasks every half hour, take breaks and ask for help if you need it.
When possible, use larger, stronger joints and muscles. For instance, use your forearms and shoulders to carry objects instead of your fingers or hands.
Listen to your body, and stop if you feel pain. Minimize repetitive pinching and gripping, as well as sustained gripping.
Weed when the soil is moist.
If you have arthritis that is causing wrist or hand pain, talk to a medical professional. A doctor, physical therapist or occupational therapist can give you a personalized treatment and pain management plan.
Having arthritis doesn’t mean you have to give up growing flowers, fruits and vegetables. Protect your joints, and avoid overuse and fatigue to help keep you in the gardening game.
Originally published Sept. 17, 2017. Last updated March 9, 2020.
Author
Raina Lyght, MPT, is a physical and certified hand therapist with AAMG Physical Therapy. To contact her office, call 443-481-1140.
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Men's Health, Orthopedics, Women's Health, Uncategorized
General Page Tier 3
6 tips for a successful joint replacement
Blog
Your knee or hip has bothered you for years. Perhaps you have a joint replacement surgery scheduled, or maybe you just know it’s in your near future. Before your surgery, you may be able to decrease your odds of a complication by making a few key lifestyle changes.
Get in shape
Strong muscles help support your joints. The better shape you’re in before joint replacement surgery, the more likely you’ll have a speedy recovery. Regular exercise helps maintain joint function while relieving stiffness and fatigue. Also, strengthening your upper body makes it easier to get around with a walker or cane for the time you’ll need it following your surgery.
Make sure you follow the exercise plan your surgeon recommends, and strongly consider taking part in prehabilitation strength training with a physical therapist. Research shows that prehab helps many recover faster following joint replacement surgery.
Watch your weight
Studies also show that obese patients are more likely to experience complications both during and after surgery than patients who are not obese. Every pound you lose takes three pounds of force off of your joints. In some cases, your diet can even help with the inflammation that can cause joint pain. Cutting back on fried and processed foods can help you lose weight and reduce inflammation.
Quit smoking
Smoking, and other tobacco use, can delay your body’s ability to heal itself following surgery. Smoking can slow down incision healing time, as well as increase your risks of prosthetic-related complications. When you smoke, your blood vessels become smaller, reducing the amount of oxygen-rich blood in your bloodstream. Healthier lungs and higher blood oxygen levels lead to faster healing. If you need help quitting, Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) offers classes and resources at askAAMC.org/QuitSmoking.
Prepare your home
Being able to successfully move around in your own home is the first step to getting back to everyday life following joint replacement surgery. Don’t wait until after surgery to prepare your home.
Here are a few basic tips:
Consider creating a “base camp” on the main level of your home. This will be where you spend most of your time. Set up a recliner or a chair and ottoman, with your phone, computer, remotes and everything else you’ll need in easy reach.
Make sure you’ve cleared a path in your home that allows you to easily move around with a walker. Remove loose rugs since they can be hazardous when you are walking around. Plus, make sure you tape down all electrical cords.
Make sure your food and grooming supplies are accessible, between waist and shoulder level.
AAMC’s Center for Joint Replacement recently began offering PT360, which offers in-home visits from a physical therapist before your surgery. The therapist helps with prehab and helps you prepare for life after joint replacement surgery in your own home. You learn how to get in and out of your own bed, how to navigate your stairs, how to get in and out of your car, and much more.
Keep a positive attitude
Know that you’ll experience challenges along the way, and maintaining a positive attitude helps tremendously. Having a positive surgical outcome is partly dependent on your willingness to work hard in physical therapy and rehab. Keeping a positive attitude helps.
Prepare for your joint replacement
Another challenge patients often face is anxiety, or fear of the unknown. A great way to ease anxiety is to be prepared. Talk with your surgeon and ask questions. Read through the guidebook you’re given by your surgeon. Go to the preoperative joint class and learn as much as you can before your surgery, as this will aid in your recovery.
The success of your joint replacement surgery truly takes a team approach — from the office staff, to the operating room team, to the nurses and physical therapists. Having a solid team helps you achieve the best possible result.
Our goal is always to get you out of pain and back to your everyday activities as soon as possible, and these six steps will help you reach that goal.
To sign up for an upcoming Hip and Knee Pain 101 class, visit askAAMC.org/JointSeminars.
Author
By Justin Hoover, MD, orthopedic surgeon at AAMC Orthopedics. To reach his practice, call 410-268-8862.
Originally posted March 15, 2017. Last updated May 4, 2018.
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Men's Health, Orthopedics, Women's Health, Pediatrics
General Page Tier 3
A Lifetime of Healthy Bones and Joints
Blog
People of different age groups can protect their bones and joints in a variety of ways:
Kids and teensDon’t go straight from zero to 100. Avoid fractures by stretching and strengthening well before returning to seasonal sports.
TeensStrengthen muscles and increase muscle mass with weight training to protect bones and joints in contact and high-impact sports.
Teen girlsReplace the calories burned during high-intensity cardiovascular sports to avoid excessive fat loss that can lead to reduced bone density.
AdultsUse stretching and light resistance strength training to keep stiff joints limber and reduce arthritis symptoms. Maintain a healthy weight to take pressure off the joints.
WomenGet enough vitamin D and calcium, and participate in load-bearing activities such as walking, running, dancing or resistance training to keep bones strong. Ask your doctor about a bone density scan after menopause.
Learn more about The Joint Center at AAMC, which performs more joint replacements than any other hospital in Maryland.
Read about one athlete who swapped running for biking to save his knees.
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