By Sheila Dwyer, Knee1 Staff
Today Show weather guy Al Roker returned to work July 9th, a month after undergoing total knee replacement surgery.
Roker damaged his left knee in a car accident 15 years ago. The condition of his knee worsened over time and forced him to undergo TKR surgery on Thursday, June 7th.
On his Web site, www.roker.com, he describes his surgery and rehabilitation to the thousands of viewers who visit each month. Roker’s recovery began with a continuous passive motion machine for his left knee. This machine kept his knee in constant motion to prepare it for more strenuous rehabilitation activities.
By the Tuesday following his surgery, Roker was ready to start his official rehabilitation. A therapist helped him bend his knee, which he extended to 80 degrees on the first day—most people can bend their knees 105 to 110 degrees, so Roker realized he had a long road ahead. Along with bending and walking, Roker also learned more mundane skills, such as how to get in and out of the bathtub and the car.
Roker also revealed on his Web site that he is taking the blood-thinning drug Coumadin. Otherwise, he feels great and is prepared to tackle the rest of his physical therapy.
Reference:
www.roker.com
