Determining the Appropriate Activity Levels After Cartilage Repair Surgery
Cartilage injuries can dramatically reduce joint function and physical activity. After a repair, most patients are concerned with whether or not they’ll restore their previous shape and get back to everyday life. As with any procedure, this depends on several factors.
Age
Age is one of the most significant parameters for whether cartilage repair patients can take up intense physical activities. Younger persons usually do better, which mostly has to do with their superior cellular metabolism. Research indicates that individuals younger than 30 are more active after cartilage repair, regardless of the technique used.
Pre-injury activity
Numerous studies show that higher activity before cartilage surgery has corresponding levels after the procedure. Competitive athletes are more likely to continue their sports than patients who perform them at a recreational level. Athletes’ outcomes are influenced by:
Greater motivation
Access to recovery resources
Socioeconomic advantages
Time of the repair
Another essential factor is the time that elapses between injury and treatment. In general, patients who have been hurt for more than 12 months have a lower chance of returning to normal activity levels. Conversely, people who undergo surgery sooner are much more likely to regain full mobility after the repair.
Several aspects affect this factor, such as the onset of joint degeneration, which considerably inhibits the rehabilitation process. Furthermore, a long-term reduction in sports participation seems to prevent patients from getting back on their feet.
Extent of injury
The size of the defect also plays a key role. Minor injuries often enable a faster return to normal activity levels. More specifically, if the defect is less than an inch, the patient can expect successful repair.
More significant defects tend to be more complicated, with the repair success rate not very high.
Repair techniques
The cartilage repair method can be critical to continuing sports participation. Here are the average return-to-sports (or recovery rates) depending on the technique:
Osteochondral autologous transfer — 91%
Osteochondral allograft transplantation — 88%
Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) — 74%
Microfracture — 68%
Various second-generation methods have been developed, such as scaffold-enhanced microfracture and matrix-assisted autologous chondrocyte implantation. They have similar rates of return as the first-generation techniques.
Considerations for future return to sports
Apart from returning to sports, the ability to keep playing for longer is a vital parameter, too. For instance, patients who undergo ACI exhibit excellent athletic activity durability four and a half years after the treatment. In contrast, continued activity is more limited following osteochondral autograft or microfracture in athletes.
Rehabilitation methodology
Rehabilitation specialists can perform multiple techniques side-by-side to boost the success rate. In many cases, the above mentioned methods are coupled with another standard procedure, like anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. It addresses associated knee problems, including malalignment and instability, to increase the odds of optimal post-surgery recovery.
Access expert rehabilitation services
Undergoing any form of cartilage repair surgery is an intensive process. Choose an experienced rehabilitation professional to help you shorten your recovery time and get back to the life you love!
If you are looking for occupational or physical therapy, vestibular rehab, wheelchair training, learning to walk, unweighting aquatic therapy, or other services in the Phoenix area, please call Touchstone Rehabilitation at 602-277-1073.