Seniors who undergo intensive rehabilitation following knee or hip replacement surgery may experience a three-fold increase in their ability to move around and perform daily tasks when compared to their status prior to the procedure, according to a nationwide analysis published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine. Researchers examined data from nearly 13,000 joint replacement patients with an average age of 71 who were admitted to inpatient rehabilitation facilities after their surgeries. Each patient's mobility was scored on a scale of one to seven (one being the lowest) at three distinct points in the process: when they went in for their procedure, when they were discharged from the rehabilitation center, and three to six months after being released from the rehabilitation center. The average senior started the process at a 1.6 on the scale and ended with a 5.6, mere months after rehabilitation. It's important to keep in mind that inpatient rehabilitation services are not always covered by Medicare. Typically, in order to qualify for coverage, a senior must have additional health concerns, such as heart disease. There are many factors to take into account when considering a joint replacement procedure; here's one caregiver's personal account of her experience with knee replacement surgery.