Posted , 7 users are following.
I've got my Goniometer coming tomorrow. Can I measure bend while sitting and having pushed my foot back with the other leg as far as it will go, or is the measurement taken in a specific different position? Thank you:-)
0 likes, 14 replies
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Guest chris00938
Posted
:D
martinarvelo chris00938
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Oldfatguy1 chris00938
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John5006 chris00938
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Hi Chris,
?I used mine mostly sitting in a high chair - similar to a dining table chair but a bit higher legs. I found if I sat on the front edge of the chair I could bend my leg further back ..... if I sat back in the chair I couldn't get the bend I was seeking. So I always sat forward. There should be instructions on its use, i.e. setting it up.
?Other times I did it lying on the bed.
I also suggest you get onto YouTube and put in the search box - something like - use of a Goniometer...... some great little short videos will explain it all.
John
chris00938 John5006
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Ah thank you John! YES! I know exactly what you mean about sitting towards the front of a higher chair so it's not in the way of pushing the leg back further:-)))) I hadn't thought of looking on YouTube - what a good idea too - thank you Jan as well. I'll get my husband to do it and read it. It sounds crazy but I'm quite excited about it coming today LOL! I need to get a life LOL!
jan01779 chris00938
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Search u tube plenty of videos but its difficult to measure yourself as you need to position it properly. If you have someone to do it for you best. I got my physio to show my husband. Remember swelling will make a difference in your reading.
BW
Jan
chris00938
Posted
Thanks to all for replies! The goniometer arrived and husband has just used it on me after watching YouTube. Straight leg is 0 degrees. Bend, pushing back is 115. I could have pushed back a bit more BUT twice today when I've pushed back it's felt as though something is sort of trapped at the back of the knee with excrutiating pain so I've had to straighten quickly. Is this normal????? It's not happening with normal walking and only when I'm pushing back with the foot. Should I not push back for a couple of days, or keep at it or what? I am icing constantly.
chris00938
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Oldfatguy1 chris00938
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John5006 chris00938
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Hi Chris,
?John again. Not really, I used to do that but then I was tipped off to buy an Ortho-Glide lower limb exerciser. Available on amazon UK (if you are in UK)). Only really suitable for carpeted floors. Put it on floor, put your heel in the cup and gently, smoothly drag your leg back sitting exactly where you sit. I found I got much better control over the movement. I used to do it(from memory) about 5 times a day but only for short bursts of 5 times (I've got it written down somewhere I'll check and get back to you.). I never had the pain at the back of knee as you describe. Like so much with recovery after this surgery - its a little and often all day. Again you could check YouTube I'm sure I've seen it on there - just type in Ortho-glide. Of course if you have carpets you could try and save money and substitute this with a small plastic clean tray.
?Also, have you been told to learn to walk again. Once off crutches I did just that - heel down first, then move to ball of foot then move to toes. you should feel it work on the leg. so, its heel, ball, toe; heel, ball, toe - again you could try YouTube for this just type in heel, ball toe. or maybe post TKR walking exercises.
John
chris00938 Oldfatguy1
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chris00938 John5006
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Yes! Thanks John, I have seen these. When I looked on YouTube for the goniometer I found several YouTubes about exercise and scar tissue done by a couple of male physios in the US and they were really good. We were told in hospital to do the foot glides on the bed initially using a tray too and that made a huge difference! I am very consciously walking 'properly' now in that I'm using heel, ball toe and my stride is almost normal, it's just that it's all a bit slow. I do feel as though the knee doesn't flow smoothly as I swing the leg forward - almost as though it would like to swing outwards or something - just a bit strange, but then I guess that since I'm not 3 weeks post op until Wednesday, it's all going pretty well really. I came off crutches about a week ago and went on to sticks then but even while I was on crutches I went on to being aware of walking properly, very gradually lengthening the stride and using the foot properly. There's a dull pain on the lower front of the knee on one side and it's a bit more swollen there, and that bit is more tender as I pull the leg up to do heel slides on the bed but I'm not too worried about that really. That feels as I'd expect really. It's just this pain on flexing as it's coming up to 120 at the back of the knee that's really bad! But I'll see what the physio says when I can get through. I did frighten myself reading about impingement but hopefully it's just me panicking. I hope my panic might help others if they experience the same things LOL! Our journey is all SO different, isn't it! Mine, for the most part has been a real high, compared to what I expected, but it's had it's moment of utter panic LOL!
John5006 chris00938
Posted
Hi Chris,
?I checked - I had to do the heel slides 4 times a day and each time 10 heel slides. Started off doing it on the bed and as things improved I transferred to the chair and did the same. Sometimes even as an additional exercise.
I also went to a sports massage therapist and as soon as my dressing was off and it was confirmed there was no infection I got my scar incision line and surrounding area deep massaged to prevent scar tissue forming. I went weekly and then in between did the same myself at home.
anyway, I am sure all will work out for you - I'm afraid though its a very long term recovery and nothing is fast about it. I'm now at 16 moths post op and just starting to feel normal.
Good luck,
John
chris00938 John5006
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Thank you John! I find I'm doing the heel slides frequently without even thinking about it now - it's coming automatically. Even perched against a till in the supermarket yesterday LOL! I'm worried about massaging the scar yet though (and it's over a week since staples came out!) because there is still a tiny bit of scabbing and I'm frightened of taking that off! So a bit torn on that aspect really. I desperately want to start the massaging but imagine it's best to make sure it's all healed totally first. The scabbing is irritating sometimes because it sticks up and catches on clothes so I cut it off closer to the skin. It's NEARLY there though LOL! Worst shock so far was last night when I suddenly realised that NONE of my jeans or trousers will fit over the swollen knee!!!! Another panic! But this one got my husband panicking too LOL!