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Contact Us

300 S. Prairieville St
PO Box 991
Athens, TX 75751

Toll Free: 877-596-3500
Phone: 903-677-3500
Fax: 903-677-4700

Office Hours:
M-F 9am - 4pm

Orthopedic

Our services may include but are not limited to:

• Supportive Care Education of Disease Process
• Individual and Family Counseling
• Management and Evaluation of Patient Care
• Observation and Assessment
• Home Safety and Emergency Education
• Medication Education
• Assistance with ADLs
• Nutrition Education
• Restorative Therapy (Physical, Occupational and Speech)
• Medical Social Services

After Hip and Knee Surgery
The following are some ways to incorporate movement after you have had hip replacement and knee surgery. Discuss these techniques with your physicians and orthopedist before attempting them. Your physical therapist may modify some of these techniques depending upon your situation (e.g., age, weight, and procedure). Only do the techniques that are recommended by your physician and/or therapist.

Once You Arrive Home
It is very important that you follow your surgeon’s instructions. The following suggestions should be discussed with your surgeon before your hospital discharge:

• If you will be using a walker or crutches to assist with walking, ask your doctor how much weight you may put on your operated leg.
• Remember that you will probably tire more easily than usual. You may want to plan a rest period of 30 to 60 minutes mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
• It is safer and easier to get in and out of chairs using both arms and you should avoid low or overstuffed furniture. To increase your comfort, use a cushion or pillow to raise your body while seated.
• An elevated toilet seat may reduce stress to your hips and knees as you sit and stand.
• A shelf placed in the shower at chest height may reduce you having to bend to retrieve items while in the shower.
• A bathtub seat (bench) allows you to sit while bathing for increased safety and comfort.
• A long-handled bath sponge may be used to reach lower legs. Women can also purchase razor extenders to shave their legs.
• Avoid sweeping, mopping and running the vacuum cleaner. Use long-handled feather dusters for dusting high and low.

Using a Walker
Once you can stand, you will use a walker to help you keep your balance. Initially you will be told to place only a small amount of weight on your operated leg as you walk. As you become stronger, your doctor will tell you when you can increase the amount of weight placed on your operated leg.

Step 1: Place the walker a few inches in front of you and hold on to the walker firmly with both hands. Keep you hip straight and step your un-operated leg into the center of the walker. To protect your hip, avoid rotating your hip or foot.

Step 2: Lean on the walker and let it support your weight. Step forward and through the walker with your operated leg. Be careful not to wrap your leg around the legs of the walker.

Step 3: Lift your walker straight up (if it doesn’t have wheels). Be sure to place all four of its legs down before stepping forward again.

Walking with Crutches
Once your muscles are strong enough, your physical therapist and/or physician may recommend crutches instead of using a walker. Your therapist will give you guidelines on how far and how long you may walk. When using crutches, put your weight on your palms, not your armpits. Don’t twist to turn; take small steps instead. Your physician and/or therapist will tell you how much weight you can put on your operated leg.

Step 1: With the crutches firmly in place, keep the pressure on your hands, not on your armpits.

Step 2: Move the operated leg and both crutches forward at the same time.

Step 3: Looking up and straight ahead, first step through the crutches with the operated leg, followed by your un-operated leg.

Walking Up Stairs with Crutches
With your crutches upright on the floor and firmly planted for support, lift your un-operated leg and place it on the step. Leaning forward on the crutches, lift yourself up. Use the crutches and your un-operated leg to support your weight. Now lift your operated leg onto the step.

You may want to have someone help you the first few times until you become comfortable with stairs.

Walking Down Stairs with Crutches
Place your crutches and your operated leg on the lower step. Use the crutches for balance and lower yourself carefully down onto the step moving the crutches as you move the operated leg. Again, you may wish to have someone assist you the first few times you try this.