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day afer her total knee replacement surgery at Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Linda Christine Lightfoot was up and walking around.

“It felt good to be able to get up and move around without limping,” she says. Te retired hair stylist had originally planned to just have surgery to repair a torn ACL. Ten she learned she had also lost 75 percent of the cartilage in her right knee and had arthritis.

“Afer talking with my physician and others who had been in a similar situation, I could see that total knee replacement was in my future,” Lightfoot says. “I decided to do it now rather than wait.” She adds that she also had a lot of confdence in her surgeon, Clinton Bell, MD, an independently practicing orthopedic surgeon on the medical staf at Methodist Charlton. “I can’t praise him enough,” she says.

In preparation for her procedure, Lightfoot participated in Te Joint Academy at Methodist Charlton. Te Academy is a free educational workshop that helps prepare its “students” both mentally and physically for upcoming joint replacement surgery. Participation in the class helps ensure the best possible surgical outcome and a faster return to normal daily activity. “Te Joint Academy class was very informative, and I really enjoyed the instructor,” Lightfoot says. “She was very good at explaining everything and answering questions. She was also very enthusiastic about her role in helping patients. I would highly recommend Te Joint Academy to anyone having joint replacement surgery.”

Lightfoot is doing well with physical therapy and getting stronger every day. Is there any activity she misses? “My husband and I play with a recreational volleyball team,” she says. “I’m really looking forward to being able to get back to that!”

“Te surgical technique we use for total knee replacement is minimally invasive, with smaller incisions and a faster recovery for the patient,” Dr. Bell says. “Ms. Lightfoot came to us with pain that was progressively worsening. Total knee replacement will greatly enhance her quality of life.”

Dr. Bell adds that the patient’s mindset during rehabilitation is important for a full recovery.

“Patients who are motivated to fully participate in the rehabilitation process fare much better than those who don’t,” he

Learn more about The Joint Academy and fnd an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staf at Methodist Health System by calling 214-947-0044 or 866-584-8104 . You can also visit www.MethodistHealthSystem.org/JointAcademy.

Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staf are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System.

Want to learn more about joint replacement? The Joint Academy is a free educational workshop that helps prepare participants both mentally and physically for joint replacement surgery. A little education goes a long way toward better surgical outcomes and a faster return to normal daily activity.

In a comfortable classroom environment, participants receive a tour of the orthopedic floor and learn about preparation for surgery, pre- and post-op care, physical therapy, and recovery. The one-day class ofers participants an opportunity to ask questions and learn directly from multidisciplinary clinicians who are involved in the care of orthopedic patients.

To learn more about the Methodist Joint Academy and fnd an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staf of Methodist Health System, call 214-947-0044 or 866-584-8104 or visit www.MethodistHealthSystem.org/JointAcademy.