Regional Rehabilitation Center therapist helps patient recover from joint replacements

Therapy gets Molly Petram back to gardening

Molly Petram’s family history of arthritis and a case of osteoarthritis brought on two hip replacements and a knee replacement.

Petram, had her first hip replacement in 2008, her second hip replacement in 2009, and then in January 2011, Petram had her right knee replacement surgery.

According to Petram, she was never really able to fully rehabilitate her right hip because her right leg was crooked due to the poor condition of her knee. Now, with a new knee, she would be able to rehabilitate both joints.

Her doctor recommended Salem Hospital’s Regional Rehabilitation Center for physical therapy following her joint replacements.

“I loved my therapist,” says Petram. “I had the same therapist for all three surgeries, so she had the history of where I was coming from and how to work with me. She also had a great relationship with my doctor, and kept him informed of my progress and needs.”

Petram’s therapist did knee mobilizations, steps and walking practice, and strength and flexibility exercises, which all helped to increase the motion and mobility in her knee. The ability to straighten and bend her knee came back very quickly.

“I have 130 degree bend in my knee now which is awesome,”says Petram.

Petram felt the aquatic therapy was instrumental in her recovery, and the on-site, warm water pool was one of the main reasons she selected the Regional Rehabilitation Center.

Petrum could do exercises in the pool that she couldn’t have tolerated on land, helping her regain endurance and speeding her recovery.

“At least once a week, I still go to the aquatic complex to participate in the STAR program, an independent water exercise class,” says Petram. “I have successfully completed therapy, and I can go up and down stairs for the first time in three years. I am also catching up on a lot of gardening that I haven’t been able to do for two years.”

If you need orthopedic rehabilitation or are scheduling a joint replacement, request a referral to the Salem Hospital Regional Rehabilitation Center, or call 503-561-5986.