Following knee replacement surgery, rehabilitation therapy may be recommended to restore full range of motion and optimal use. A powerful and easy-to-use tool in rehabilitation is whole body vibration.
Vibration therapy is an effective way to stimulate muscle tissue, increase blood flow and build bone mass. Vibrations contract and relax your muscles quickly allowing for faster healing.
Improved Range of Motion
After hip or knee surgery, you may experience stiffness and discomfort that requires physical therapy to address. With physical therapy at your side, range of motion can increase while relieving discomfort in that area of your body.
One effective and powerful form of treatment is vibration therapy, which works by sending small vibrations through your body that cause muscles and joints to contract and relax up to 12 times every second – helping strengthen your muscles while increasing flexibility while speeding healing time and improving range of motion post surgery. It’s a proven approach for improving range of motion post surgery.
Vibration therapy was first pioneered by Russian and American scientists to assist their astronauts during space missions, finding that vibration kept muscles active while preventing muscle atrophy in zero gravity environments. Later, these same scientists applied vibration therapy to rehab athletes after injuries had occurred – seeing astounding benefits which are still used today to increase patients’ range of motion after surgery.
Studies show vibration therapy to be an effective rehabilitation tool after hip replacement surgery. Patients who began whole-body vibration workouts earlier showed greater improvements in range of motion (ROM), thigh girth (TG), and pain levels with shorter postoperative pain duration compared to those who did not use whole-body vibration workouts as early. Not all patients experienced immediate benefits while some may take longer.
Vibration therapy can be combined with other therapies to maximize its impact on patients’ postoperative recovery. For instance, it can be combined with manual joint mobilization to accelerate recovery and restore full joint function more rapidly; or soft tissue massage to increase circulation and heal muscles and ligaments more quickly.
Vibration therapy should not be undertaken during pregnancy, if metal pins or plates are in place, following surgery, injuries sustained through recent trauma or recent illness such as skin rashes or open wounds are present, or when pregnant. For this reason it is advised to first consult your healthcare provider before beginning a vibration therapy program.
Those experiencing hip or knee issues should contact Mile High Spine & Pain Center to learn about vibration therapy as a possible solution post surgery. We offer both in-office and virtual sessions designed to relieve their discomfort while strengthening muscles around affected areas.
Increased Blood Flow
Vibration therapy not only increases range of motion and eases pain, but it can also boost blood flow. Vibrations from a machine cause muscles to contract and relax up to 12 times per second, improving circulation by providing more oxygenated blood to injured tissues – this reduces swelling faster and expedites recovery time so you can return to regular life activities faster than before.
After surgery, it is critical that you begin moving as soon as possible to promote blood flow and prevent blood clots. Your physical therapist can give simple exercises designed to get you moving around, or they may suggest the use of elastic compression stockings, which apply pressure directly onto legs to facilitate proper blood flow – these devices may prove especially helpful if you suffer from a blood-clotting disorder that increases the risk of DVT.
DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is a serious medical condition in which a blood clot forms in a vein in your leg. This clot can be very dangerous and lead to extreme discomfort in your leg, making walking painful. Preventing blood clots after surgery is key, and your doctor can advise on the steps that should be taken in this regard – such as quitting smoking and taking certain medications (for instance if estrogen levels are high or there have been previous blood clots), in order to stop further blood clot formation.
Vibration therapy is an excellent way to increase blood flow and lower the risk of DVT after surgery. Studies have demonstrated how vibration therapy can stimulate muscle pumps and increase venous, arterial, and microcirculatory blood flow – improving it can prevent DVT while simultaneously decreasing post-operative oedema and speeding wound healing.
Vibration therapy has also been found to reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness. One study on hamstring injuries demonstrated this benefit by finding that vibration therapy reduced recovery times from exercises while simultaneously increasing muscle strength. Another research paper illustrated how vibration can boost knee extension torque after arthroplasty surgery.
Reduced Pain Symptoms
Pain after surgery can be more than simply unpleasant; it can also impede recovery and increase risk. That is why doctors strive to safely minimize postoperative discomfort; although they can never guarantee no discomfort after surgery, many times they can achieve greater reduction than anticipated before surgery begins.
Pain post-surgery varies significantly according to individual circumstance and operation type, but most commonly experienced at surgical sites or along incision lines is known as nociceptive pain – typically it dissipates as your body heals itself over time. Other forms of post-op pains may include muscle soreness, tingling or numbness due to prolonged immobility or medication effects or from injury.
These types of pain tend to respond well to non-opioid painkillers such as acetaminophen (paracetamol), metamizole and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or diclofenac. Available as tablets, injections or topical creams these medications are safe and effective at managing postsurgical discomfort.
However, they do not address the source of pain, nor offer lasting relief. Furthermore, many medications come with side effects like drowsiness and constipation as well as being addictive and leading to dependency.
Vibration therapy has proven itself effective at both short and long-term pain reduction post surgery. When combined with physical therapy exercises – like going to the gym – vibration therapy can build strength and mobility in areas impacted by surgery as well as prevent delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
An effective post-surgical pain reduction strategy aims not at eliminating all discomfort but at creating controlled comfort so you can recover quickly and resume living life more comfortably. This will accelerate your healing, reduce risks such as blood clots and pneumonia, and allow you to get back up on your feet as soon as possible.
Reduced Inflammation
An inevitable side effect of surgery, swelling is an uncomfortable yet necessary part of recovery. Your body interprets any cut or incision as an injury and releases fluids and white blood cells to begin healing the area in question. Swelling can be uncomfortable but should be accepted as part of its natural course.
Swelling after surgery may continue for months. To reduce inflammation and swelling effectively, it’s essential to follow doctor-recommended guidelines on reducing it, such as avoiding activities which place too much strain on the knees like using exercise machines, weightlifting or contact sports. Ice may be applied directly to reduce inflammation while massaging gently with soft towels or hands may help increase circulation while decreasing fluid build-up in the joint.
Vibration therapy can be an excellent way to combat inflammation after knee surgery. Studies have demonstrated how vibration therapy can enhance muscle performance, increase blood flow and stimulate production of nitric oxide – all factors which help with inflammation reduction and swelling reduction. As a result, your body will heal more quickly and return to its usual functionality faster.
One way to reduce inflammation after knee replacement surgery is to drink plenty of water and take anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. Furthermore, elevating the knee when possible may help with decreasing both swelling and discomfort.
Contact your physician regarding vibration therapy as part of your recovery plan. Many physical therapists use vibration to assist patients recovering from knee replacement surgeries. Therapists can create a treatment plan tailored specifically for you based on surgery details and medical history, including exercises designed to release tension in muscles surrounding surgery sites, strengthen weaker ones around wound sites and boost circulation to the area. Your therapist may also include trigger point therapy to ease muscle knots that produce referred pain in other parts of the body.
