Customer Reviews

Total Knee Replacement and Rehabilitation: The Knee Owner's Manual

5 star:		(48)
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3 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Total Knee Replacement & Rehabilitation is written by a surgeon (Daniel Brugioni) and a physiotherapist (Jeff Falkel), both well-qualified and specialists in this topic. Dr Falkel's own bilateral knee replacement - both knees at the same time - was an eye-opener to him and changed his own approach to managing knee replacement patients.

The number of people having total knee replacement is due to massively increase as post-war baby boomers start to hit their sixties, but this is unfortunately occurring at a time when health insurance companies around the world are tightening up on cost containment. The authors recognise that rehabilitation after total knee replacement is long, and insurance companies already do not fund adequate physiotherapy time. This book was written to support the knee replacement patient with practical advice for a full year after surgery.

The first two chapters give an overview of arthritis and current approaches to slowing its progression and improving quality of life. Knee replacement is discussed in some detail - basic design considerations, bilateral knee replacement and how to go about finding a competent surgeon. Question and answer sessions complete each chapter.

There is a useful pre-surgery chapter, advising on getting your home ready for your return from hospital and giving useful exercise regimes for building up strength to facilitate the use of crutches or a walker after surgery. What to expect once you arrive at the hospital and on the day of your operation are covered in some detail, but detail of the surgical process itself has been deliberately minimised. Potential complications are, however, covered in an appendix.

From this point on the book really fleshes out, and focuses on rehabilitation, taking the reader day by day through carefully chosen exercise regimes, all explained and fully illustrated. Through the early days on the ward, then home, and beyond are all covered in significant detail, using for the greater part readily available household items as rehabilitation aids.

There are several sections on scar management. Bathroom aids are discussed. Range-of-motion exercises, strengthening exercises, balance exercises, endurance exercises - all are discussed and illustrated, and carefully graduated as time progresses, right the way to a full return to normal activities. Question and answer sessions accompany each chapter, and an index of the exercises is available in its own appendix for ready reference.

This book will be extremely useful to anyone contemplating total knee replacement.

Dr Sheila Strover
http://www.kneeguru.co.uk

This is an excellent book for anyone thinking of having TKR. I would suggest that you read it prior having your surgery and keep it next to you during rehab. The information contained in this book answered many of the questions my husband has had. He refers to it on a daily basis for exercises and scar management. Now he is 9 weeks post surgical and he walks with no pain, no canes or braces and he is 83. The exercises in this book have been much more advanced than he received in Physical Therapy. It is great having a P. Therapist who has been through the surgery write about his experience.

My wife had total knee replacement surgery on one leg last June. When a friend and co-worker who had had both knees done (at the same time!) visited her in the hospital, she raved about this book and said it had helped her recovery greatly... even offered to give my wife her copy! Since the friend was doing so well only 6 weeks after her operation, I was very impressed and immediately ordered it. My wife, who is a registered nurse, has found it full of useful information and helpful exercises. Although she knew a lot about the process of knee replacement, she felt that this book clearly explains the process for the lay person. The authors stress the importance of strengthening your leg muscles before surgery. The post surgery exercises are intended to guide you through your first year of post-op healing. Lots of clear photos take the mystery out of this medical miracle and help you take charge of your own rehabilitation. If you are considering knee replacement, this book will improve your chances of returning to pain-free walking again!

I am in recovery of bilateral TKR. Have read 4 other titles- worthless.
But this book is tremendous. Every one should read it before their surgery and have right by their side during their recovery. I'm getting copies for my surgeon, parish nurse, and my therapists. The exercises are super - with excellent pictures and descriptions.

I love this book! It got me through some really tough times. Because the authors have been through major surgery and one had bilateral TKR's, they know from where they speak. I bet I read the book 10 times while I was rehabing.

My only criticism, and it's minor, is the timelines for rehab seem a bit overambitious. I'm "only" 57 and some of the rehab was tough for me. I found myself questioning if I was really coming along as well as I thought at times. Just remember, regardless of age, everybody heals differently.

Anyway, I highly recommend this book to anyone undergoing TKR. Buy it BEFORE surgery.

This book has become my only reference book. I read it before my knee replacement as I contemplated having it done. Now that the surgery is done I use it as a reference book. My therapist was very impressed by it too!! This is a book all patients considering or have had a knee replacement must read.

Only book I know in this genre = you want to recover from knee or hip surgery self-sufficiently. Very good job overall. Many exercises to pick from at all phases of regaining mobility from ground zero thru several years after. The Message: begin in earnest the very first day and use a CPM machine. The first 3 weeks done correctly make all the difference later.

This book is invaluable! Everyone who has had The TKR needs to read it several times. The Physical Therapy Centers you go to often do not know the facts or the right treatments for you.. These authors, both an orthopedic surgeon and a PhD in Rehab, really give you the answers you need to every question you have, and explain everything in a clear, easy way! Jt

My only regret is not having access to this book soon enough. I can certainly see it would also prepare a person for the surgery in many ways. I felt it was presented as clear information. Think it helped that one of the authors had actually had this surgery. I referred to the text whenever I had a question or needed some help in dealing with a certain problem. It was almost like having a doctor or physical therapist at my finger tips.

This manual is a complete guide in the process of knee replacement and beyond. Having had a replacement 9 months ago, I still found the information excellent. The exercises recommended complimented what I did in out-patient physical therapy. The easy to understand "directions" allowed me to quickly use the exercises I chose. Having the balance of a doctor and a physical therapist (who knows first hand what it is like!)provided balanced and complete information. I especially liked the chapter regarding one year and beyond. Few people talk about the process after 6 months. I would recommend this manual for anyone anywhere in the process regarding knee replacement.