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Getting Moving Again After a Joint Replacement: Why "Movement Literacy" Matters

By: Master Trainer and Coach Pat Marques

Learning to move
How big is Your Movement Library?

Joint replacements are becoming more and more common these days. In fact, it’s estimated that by 2030, around 850,000 hip and nearly 2 million knee replacements will be happening each year! If you’ve had a hip, knee, or even shoulder replacement or think you need one, you’re not alone. In fact, over just this last year, we have helped several patients with each of these with wonderful results.


But if you have had a replacement or may need one, what’s next? That is where movement literacy comes in.


Think of movement literacy as your body’s "ABC's" for movement. Just like you need to know all the letters to write a sentence, your body needs to "know" how to move each part—your joints, muscles, and everything in between—smoothly and pain-free. This is especially important after joint replacement surgery.


Here’s why movement literacy is so important:

  • Why Did You Need Surgery in the First Place? Often, joint replacements are not just about wear and tear from aging. They can happen because of poor movement patterns that develop over time. The way you moved before surgery might not have been ideal, which could have contributed to needing the replacement in the first place!

  • Movement is a Team Effort: When you walk or squat, it’s not just one joint doing all the work. Your body is using multiple joints to make that movement happen. So, after surgery, it’s not only the replaced joint that needs attention—everything around it must also move better as well.

  • Building Your Movement "Alphabet": If you want to move with less pain and better strength, your body needs access to all its "letters"—each joint moving well. For example:

    • After a knee replacement, you’ll want to make sure your feet, ankles, hips, and pelvis are moving smoothly.

    • After a hip replacement, you’ll need to pay attention to your ankles, knees, and even your lower back.

    • After a shoulder replacement, we look at your spine, shoulder blade, and elbow.

Never to Old
Young or Old, Movement is Key to a Great Life

The cool part is that as you improve control over these areas, your brain builds a better "map" of your body. This improved map leads to better movement, less pain, and more strength.

So, whether you've had a joint replacement or want to move better in general and avoid needing a new joint, improving your movement literacy is key to success! Keep working on those body "ABC's," and you’ll feel better in no time.


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