Myotherapy based treatment has the potential to play an important role in both the pre and post operative care of patients undergoing total hip replacement (THR) surgery.
Pre surgery, patients commonly suffer from high levels of pain and discomfort associated with joint immobility.
This often leads to prolonged sedentary behaviour, inturn-causing atrophy of the associated muscle tissue. Atrophy and dysfunction in surrounding musculature can have a dramatic impact on the duration of postoperative recovery.
Myotherapy can assist in maintaining joint mobility and minimising patient discomfort in a wide range of conditions affecting the hip such as Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Avascular Necrosis.
Non-invasive treatments and exercises targeting the deep tissues surrounding the hip are used to lessen the impacts of an underlying condition, maintain patient mobility, decrease pain and assist in the preservation of muscular tissue.
Techniques such as deep tissue massage, myofascial dry needling and the prescription of specific exercises and stretches have been proven effective in maintaining joint mobility, decreasing pain and preserving the vital supporting musculature that is compromised pre and post THR.
In the post operative setting patients routinely suffer from the effects of surgical disruption to muscle tissue, causing ongoing pain and lengthening the associated rehabilitation period.
Myotherapy can assist post op with ongoing rehabilitation by advancing muscular and surrounding tissue regeneration through manual techniques and the promotion of correct biomechanical function.
During the recovery 6-8 weeks post surgery gait is altered placing abnormal load on the body. A compensatory gait can affect the lower back, the ‘good’ leg which temporarily becomes the primary weight bearer, even areas as distant as the cervical spine. Myotherapy can recognise and treat these imbalances before they manifest as pain.
Myotherapy may be utilized in conjunction with physiotherapy and orthopaedic specialties to achieve the optimum outcome for any individual undergoing a THR.
By Vicki HatfieldAdv. Dip. Myotherapy (RMIT) Level 1 APMA Pilates Instructor
