The disease: osteoarthritis Patient: Arthroscopic surgery was done after more than four months of knee swelling. More than five months after the surgery, my knee is still swollen, I can’t walk straight, I can’t even walk normally, even my left leg feels inconvenient to walk, there is a popping sound when I bend and stretch, and I feel pressure when I stand. In my case, is rehabilitation physiotherapy effective? Dr. Wang: Older women with osteoarthritis generally have a slower recovery time than younger people. If you don’t do rehabilitation, muscle strength decreases, muscle atrophy occurs, joint instability occurs, and in addition, if you don’t control inflammation, it re-causes synovial hyperplasia and aggravates pain, which can cause the problems you mentioned above. Rehabilitation is definitely needed. Physical therapy is one of the elements of rehabilitation and is only an adjunctive treatment. If it is convenient for you, you can come for an examination and a rehabilitation plan will be made for you. Patient: Yes, thank you, Director Wang! But the biggest problem is that I don’t have many days in a row (if I have to be hospitalized for 10 days and half a month), I can’t get away from my work, it’s OK to take one or two days out occasionally, is that OK? Dr. Wang: It is not necessary to be hospitalized. But 1-2 days is needed, mainly because you have to learn the treatment yourself and we have to teach you. If you can’t follow the requirements strictly, it will prolong the treatment period. Patient: I’m going to come to see you on the 9th day of the New Year (Monday), are you working? Do you need to make an appointment? Dr. Wang: We recommend that you come to our clinic on Thursday. This is because every Thursday is our joint rehabilitation clinic, and it is also our joint clinic with Professor Wang Yubin, a nationally renowned expert in joint surgery (sports medicine). Please bring all your X-rays and case information to avoid having to repeat the examination. Patient: Yes, thank you! I wish you a happy and healthy New Year!