Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Germany

Orthopedic rehabilitation is a set of measures necessary for the complete restoration of the function of the musculoskeletal system after an injury, operation, or disease. Ligaments and bones heal slowly, and after their injury, a long period of immobilization is usually required. Therefore, orthopedic rehabilitation can take a long time: from 3 to 6 months. In some diseases, the patient can recover faster: for example, after a meniscus resection, the recovery takes only 1-1,5 months.

Content

1. Rehabilitation after joint injuries
2. Rehabilitation after orthopedic surgery
3. Rehabilitation after spinal cord injury
4. Rehabilitation after sports injuries
5. Why is it worth undergoing rehabilitation in Germany

Rehabilitation after joint injuries

In sports medicine and traumatology, most injuries require prolonged immobilization. During this time, muscles atrophy, and blood supply to tissues deteriorate. After the fusion of bones and ligaments, doctors start active rehabilitation measures to restore muscle tone and movement accuracy.

After conservative therapy and after surgery, rehabilitation begins as early as possible. It allows doctors to:

• reduce atrophic phenomena;
• avoid disability and fully restore joint function;
• eliminate stiffness; 
• restore the stereotype of walking, and fully return the extremity function.

From the first days after the injury, therapeutic exercises are used. Even if the extremity is immobilized, the patient does general exercises for other body parts. In the first 1-2 weeks, massage, physiotherapy, and electromyostimulation are used. The task is to maintain muscle tone and good blood supply.

After the termination of immobilization, the functional period for orthopedic rehabilitation begins. It continues until the total anatomical restoration of the affected organ. This period is the most important. The specialists use exercises for the damaged part of the body: at first light, and then more and more intense. During this period, massage and physiotherapy only complement the workout. In case of stiffness, the joint is worked out additionally using mechanical devices.

The total duration of training is gradually adjusted to 3 hours a day. After functional recovery, the limbs proceed to the training stage of rehabilitation. Its task is to:

• return muscle volume to a level of at least 90% relative to the other extremity;
• restore proprioceptive sensitivity;
• return household, professional, sports skills;
• improve the stereotype of walking (in case of injuries of the joints of the lower limbs).

During rehabilitation after sports injuries in Germany, an interdisciplinary team with vast experience takes care of the patient's health. This team consists of rehabilitation therapists, orthopedists, massage therapists, and physiotherapy specialists. Workouts are planned individually, while the results are assessed and adjusted. Physicians plan sessions in such a way they are not excessive and do not lead to recurrent injury, but at the same time are sufficient for constant and rapid progress.

Rehabilitation after orthopedic surgery

Orthopedic rehabilitation features after surgery are that the patient is subjected to additional trauma during surgery, especially, if it is a major operation, such as joint replacement surgery or bone tumor removal surgery. Even after minimally invasive arthroscopic surgeries on the joints, it takes 2-3 weeks before the soft tissues in the incision area heal.

The specifics of orthopedic rehabilitation in Germany are the earliest possible beginning. This country often uses a fast-track protocol. It involves accelerated rehabilitation to activate the patient as early as possible and reduce the risk of operation complications.

In the early postoperative period, patients receive drug therapy, physiotherapy, and massage. Immediately after activation, they perform exercises: including those for the operated part of the body. For example, if knee surgery is performed, the exercises involve ankle joint movement. It allows for increasing muscle tone and improving blood circulation in the tissues.

After removing the sutures and the immobilization bandage, the patient can undergo orthopedic rehabilitation in specialized orthopedic rehabilitation clinics. Rehabilitation in Germany is provided with the use of state-of-the-art equipment. There is everything necessary for patients in hospitals for orthopedic rehabilitation: simulators, pools, gymnastic devices, physiotherapy devices, robot-assisted systems, etc. Hospitals in Germany pay great attention to rehabilitation since the final treatment result of the musculoskeletal disease or injury largely depends on it.

Rehabilitation after spinal cord injury

A feature of spinal cord injury rehabilitation is that the patient cannot exercise for a long time. The period of immobilization is long, and it can reach several months. In addition, such injuries often cause a neurological deficit, so the patient needs orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation.

The most important part of rehabilitation is locomotor training. Suspension systems are used to hold the patient's body, allowing unloading of the joints and spine.

During the period of immobilization, mechanical devices are used. They work out limbs, and joints, reduce the risk of developing contractures and improve blood supply to the muscles. Patients receive physiotherapy and massage. Drugs that stimulate the recovery of the spine and spinal cord are used. Hospitals in developed countries increasingly use cell therapy: platelet-rich plasma injections and stem cells enhance tissue regeneration.

Hospitals in Germany use modern methods to restore patients, including:

• robot-assisted systems for practicing walking skills;
• fitness equipment with biofeedback and virtual reality;
• exoskeletons, which can be used even in the initial period after an injury or spinal surgery.

Erigo and Lokomat devices are used to train walking skills. They contain bodyweight unloading systems, a treadmill, and motors. When using these devices, a person who cannot independently maintain a vertical body position can increase muscle strength and range of motion in the joints. Robot-assisted devices increase the effectiveness of rehabilitation as compared to the use of standard locomotor training.

Patients after spinal injury lie for a long time, which leads to blood stagnation and increases the risk of thrombosis and thromboembolism. In addition, muscles atrophy, and it becomes more difficult to restore their volume during follow-up rehabilitation. Exoskeletons are used in German medical clinics to solve this problem. They allow the patient to start exercising before the damaged bones heal.

Rehabilitation after sports injuries

There are special requirements in sports medicine for rehabilitation. A person usually wants to recover as quickly as possible to return to training and sports competitions. On the other hand, recovery must be comprehensive so that the person can withstand the maximum load while avoiding recurrent injury.

You can go for sports injury rehabilitation in Germany to get the best results. Famous athletes from all over the world come to this country to quickly get rid of the consequences of an injury. Modern methods, individually selected exercise sets, innovative fitness equipment, and robot-assisted systems are used for sports injury rehabilitation in Germany.

Most of the time is spent on medical rehabilitation after a torn ligament. For plastic surgery, doctors have to create a bone tunnel in the bone. Then a new ligament is fixed in it, which eventually fuses with the bone. However, this takes time. Total recovery of the knee function or other joint takes up to 6 months.

Rehabilitation after knee ligament tears takes place in four phases:

Phase 1 lasts up to 4 weeks. The task of doctors is to increase the range of motion in the knee, regain control over the muscles, and teach the patient to walk without crutches. To start active rehabilitation earlier, on the 10th day after the operation, when the sutures are removed, doctors change the plaster cast for an orthosis. It limits, but does not completely exclude movement in the knee, opens the front surface of the thigh for massage, electrical myostimulation, and makes isometric exercises possible.

Phase 2 lasts 2,5 months. It is the most active stage of rehabilitation. During this stage, the complete restoration of the range of motion in the joint is achieved.The muscle strength of the leg increases and control when walking is also achieved. The main means of rehabilitation is physical training. The patient performs physical exercises, as well in the swimming pool and on the special fitness equipment.

Phase 3 lasts up to 4 months after the injury. These are intensive workouts aimed at the total restoration of the strength and volume of the lower limb muscles. The person no longer experiences pain in the knee and can run.

Phase 4 lasts up to 6 months. It involves the restoration of sports skills. Proprioceptive sensitivity improves, knee  swelling disappears, and vertical loads and sudden movements are already allowed.

Why is it worth undergoing rehabilitation in Germany

You can undergo treatment and rehabilitation in Germany after knee injuries, large joint replacement surgery, or any musculoskeletal injuries. This country uses the latest treatment methods, and the rehabilitation centers have state-of-the-art equipment. There are a few reasons for you to undergo rehabilitation in Germany:

• a country with advanced medicine, in which even the most severe musculoskeletal diseases and injuries are successfully treated;
• individual rehabilitation regimens that are constantly adjusted, depending on the results achieved;
• your recovery will be in the safe hands of a multidisciplinary team with vast experience;
• cell therapy will accelerate tissue regeneration;
• fast-track rehabilitation protocols will help reduce the risk of complications;
• medical clinics use state-of-the-art medical equipment: robot-assisted systems, biofeedback, virtual reality, exoskeletons;
• the most complete and successful recovery even after severe injuries, including the spinal ones;
• full recovery after joint replacement surgery, including after simultaneous replacement of joints on two limbs at once;
• full restoration of the function of damaged parts of the body, and the ability to return to physical labor or sports.

To undergo diagnostics, therapy, and orthopedic rehabilitation in Germany, please use the Booking Health service. On our website, you can get up-to-date and accurate information about the cost of treatment in Germany, compare prices in different German hospitals and book a medical care program at one of the clinics. The treatment will be easier and faster for you, and the cost of treatment in Germany will be lower.

You are welcome to leave your request on the Booking Health website. Our employee will contact you, consult, and answer all questions. We will take care of the organization of your trip abroad. We will provide the following benefits to you:

• We will select the best German hospital whose doctors specialize in the orthopedic rehabilitation of patients after conservative therapy or surgical interventions.
• We will help you overcome the language barrier and establish communication with the doctor of the German hospital.
• We will reduce the waiting period for diagnostics and treatment, and you will receive medical care on the most suitable dates.
• We will reduce the price. The cost of treatment in Germany will be lower than usual due to the elimination of overpricing and coefficients for foreign patients.
• Our specialists will solve any organizational issues: paperwork, transfer from the airport to the German hospital, and back, hotel booking, and interpreting services.
• We will prepare your documents and translate them into English or German. You do not have to undergo previously performed diagnostic procedures.
• We will keep in contact with the German hospital after the completion of treatment.
• We will arrange additional diagnostics and treatment if necessary.
• We will buy medicines in another country and forward them to your native country.

While the best specialists in the world take care of your health, the Booking Health staff will help reduce the cost of treatment in Germany and take care of all your travel arrangements.

Authors: 

The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk and Dr. Sergey Pashchenko. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!

Sources:

Smart rehabilitation

Medscape

Cochrane Rehabilitation