Osteomyelitis physical therapy exercises?

Have you ever had an issue with your bone getting infected? Not just any infection, but one that invades the marrow area of the bone structure. Sounds like a normal Tuesday, right? However, don’t let an infamous microbe ruin your day by resulting in a debilitating disease called Osteomyelitis.

Osteo-what-now?

Yeah, osteomyelitis! It is no joke as it involves monitoring such factors as sequestrum formation (dead bone fragments) and involucrum production (basically new bone growth). Plus there’s antibiotics on top of more complex measures (whispers surgery) to make sure everything heals properly.

One crucial aspect for proper osteorythmics – yeah we made that term up because we can – is physical therapy. We’ve compiled all sorts of information on this topic so let’s flex our brains out and learn how to heal those bones!

What Exactly Is Osteomyelitis?

Before diving deep into physical therapy exercises for osteomyelitis patients, let’s take a quick overview class about this wacky medical situation.

From what our sources tell us (which shall remain nameless) – cough cough not really cough – here’s what happens:

“Osteomye-What?” Essentially when bacteria finds its way inside the bones due to external or internal parts being broken down/weak AND/OR after surgery where any potential microbes may be introduced if too many precautions aren’t taken during treatment procedures… hence leading to pretty undesirable symptoms including:

  • Painful swelling
  • Constant fatigue
  • Irritating fever episodes
    …and other weird experiences…

Not only does damage occur from original condition stresses such as fractures or orthopedic surgeries; but now we add bacterial contamination causing plenty-o-complication.

The most common type of bacteria that causes osteomyelitis is Staphylococcus aureus but others lie within hospital-related scenarios like Enterobacteriaceae and genera with some funky spelling as well such as Fusobacterium necrophorum.

Thankfully in the world we live in now, catching such bugs are very hard to do due to strict health care policies around surgical procedures. But sometimes it can still occur, leading patients down a path they never wished for.

Launching into Physical Therapy Exercises

With that out of the way , let’s get into what you’re really here for: How to Move That Body. Flexing exercises have always been considered beneficial even if it’s just sitting on your couch and drinking water – multi-tasking challenge anyone ?

Physical therapy plays a crucial role during the healing process while dealing with osteomyelitis symptoms as:

  • Group actions provide an ample opportunity for muscle/bone rejuvenation
  • Strengthening exercise reduces recurrent bone fractures 🙂
    which no one likes…
    (trust us we know because we googled all about this thingie…websites without sources be darned)

However after being stuck inside our houses given today’s pandemic scenario or if personal preference draws us indoors; finding makeshift-yet-effective ways becomes all the more important! Here are some key physical therapy exercises when you’re under house arrest:

Seated Leg Raises

Wooo..vibrant…..
This one is pretty straightforward – simply sit upright on a chair/medical bed/couch/floor nearby you where these infections force you choose more often than not :/. Now, slowly raise your respective leg through an arch until fully extended before moving back down again.
Think marathon runner stretches minus running part ;-). Repeat this motion at least ten times daily till victory over those pesky microbes.

Toe Tapping Duet

Here comes a master piece that involves coordination…..
Find a comfortable spot where you can extend your legs and lay on your back. Now ever so slightly, bend knees to angle them upwards towards ceiling until it’s about ten degrees or less raised off the ground. Right foot in front of left – then tap both toes together while keeping feet as far apart as possible all while listening to ‘We Will Rock You’. Okay maybe not last part but you know what we’re getting at.

Isometric Weight Presses

Wait, isometrics? Half weight pushes or something? Basically yes; this technique used in physical therapy integrates resistance directly within exercises making those bones’ efforts – multi-purposeful! Not only does pressing down increase bone density over time but helps exercise muscles surrounding concerned area for better results.
You’ll want some appropriate steps:

  • Place the heel of one hand to affected side thigh (if applicable) whilst laying flat on stomach/chest..
  • Begin slowly pushing downward against whichever leg accompanies pushed-down-hand wile ensuring restraint within limb movement AGAINST HEAVIER WEIGHT which could cause further damage under current circumstances…. Oof!
    -Yep, hold that press for at least five seconds before taking breaks every few minutes .

Specialized Physical Therapy Exercises Based on Diagnosis

Physical therapy would always benefit anyone dealing with osteomyelitis – no rocket science there. But the variation of symptoms caused by different underlying reasons require diagnosis specific treatments/techniques lying beyond general arm/leg stretches…..

Here are a few examples ,

Subacute Symptoms Workout

Great googa-moogas somebody call their therapist….

Subacute osteomyelitis comes into play when initial rounds of antibiotics/surgeries fail during recovery yet reoccur later again causing unnecessary alarm-clocks headaches .
Thankfully though specialized workouts are available even targeted down such an illness including following techniques:

-Lying flat and raising respective limb (arm or leg) through a one-sided arc motion until forming around mid air arc then lowering again
-Placing a ball behind various areas of lumbar/without the affected area and pressing with weight to help strengthen back muscles….because what can’t an inflatable sphere do?

Chronic Symptoms Workout

Let’s let that chronic out so it starts singing Beyonce….
If osteomyelitis symptoms drag on for too long (around six weeks +) , professionals might recommend adopting some more intense workout regimens :

-Superman pose acts as primary exercise where you lay down facing ground and raise both hands/legs up in tandem. Think like superman flying without clearly defined ambitions ha ha ! Complete at least 10 reps every time before giving hand to floor, taking five deep breaths before starting all over again

-Good old-noodle stretches: Utilizing foam-noodles have become recently popular in rehabilitating injured folks due to their flexibility enhancing properties – this will also stimulate bone growth when used under proper precautions.

Conclusion & Reinforcement

Osteomyelitis may sound intimidating but modern medical advancements have ensured that no-one needs to lose hope when encountering such probability odds .
Physical therapy exercises might not be able to prevent all conceivable problems arising from developing infections; however, targeted exercise can always be helpful no matter how weak your bones end up becoming after fighting off disease! Remember personalized diagnosis/workout plans are highly recommended especially if working alone,(c’mon any excuse not to mingle these days – We’re taking 😉 I mean wear masks!! )

Keep moving my friends and keep stretching even if corny music follows!

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