(516) 679-2225
During joint replacement surgery, damaged or worn-out bone and cartilage are replaced with artificial components made of metal and plastic. The goal is to restore mobility and reduce pain. In many cases, patients return home the same day or within a few days of surgery.
But recovery doesn’t stop there. Physical therapy, scar tissue management, and other supportive treatments can significantly impact your outcome. One such treatment is the Graston Technique®.
Is the Graston Technique® Useful After Total Knee Replacement?
Yes, the Graston Technique® can be beneficial after a total knee replacement, once your incision has healed and your doctor or physical therapist clears you to proceed. This soft tissue therapy uses stainless steel instruments to gently break up fascial restrictions and scar tissue in muscles and connective tissue.
After knee replacement, it’s common to experience lingering tightness, swelling, or restricted mobility due to internal scar formation. Graston therapy may help:
- Improve range of motion
- Reduce post-operative discomfort
- Encourage healthy blood flow to the healing area
While Graston is not recommended immediately after surgery, it can be a valuable addition to your recovery regimen when timed appropriately.
How to Reduce Inflammation After Knee Replacement?
Even though inflammation is a normal part of the healing process after total knee replacement, excessive swelling can slow down recovery and limit mobility. Common methods to reduce inflammation include:
- Rest and elevation
- Ice therapy
- Compression garments
- Walking and light activity (with crutches or a walker)
- Blood thinners, if prescribed
How Do You Loosen Stiff Knees After Joint Replacement?
Stiffness after knee replacement is one of the more common challenges post-surgery. The most important thing you can do is work with your healthcare team and stick to their plan of physical therapy. It’s important to focus on exercises that help restore movement through stretching, strengthening, and mobility.
Arthrofibrosis, also called stiff-knee syndrome, is a condition that occurs when there is excessive scarring around the knee. Though it can affect any joint, it is most often linked to knee surgeries, like ACL reconstruction or a repetitive injury that can cause scar tissue to build up over a long period of time.
The Graston Technique® may also play a role in reducing muscle tightness and helping to break down internal scarring, also known as adhesions, in the surrounding tissues. Adhesions can limit movement when they form excessively around a joint. These internal scars can’t be eliminated, but therapy can manage the impact they have on a person’s mobility. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for breaking up internal scar tissue after a knee replacement. Recovery is a unique process for each patient and requires a tailored plan. A proper course of care planned out with a healthcare provider is often a mixed course of therapy exercises and manual therapy.
Boost Your Healing with East Bay Chiropractic Wellness
East Bay Chiropractic Wellness has helped many people recover more effectively for more than 35 years. We offer a wide range of holistic chiropractic services, including adjustments, massage therapy, trigger point therapy, kinesiology techniques, and more. We also specialize in the Graston Technique®, which can improve healing time and increase your range of motion after an injury. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
