Are you scheduled for an upcoming surgery and concerned about bouncing back from it well-or even hopeful that you'll end up feeling stronger than before?
Our highly skilled and experienced team of physical therapy clinicians can guide you through the entire pre-surgical and post-surgical process so that you can maximize your outcomes and make the most out of any type of invasive procedure.
What Is Post-Surgical Rehab and What are the Benefits?
Post-surgical rehab with a physical therapist is especially important in order to make sure things go smoothly after your operation is done. This is because any type of surgery is a form of trauma and can affect the body differently. Even minor and uncomplicated surgical procedures can have a major impact on your health.
Individualized post-surgical rehab with a physical therapist not only minimizes your pain and accelerates your rate of healing (and return to sport or work). It also reduces the chances of post-operative complications including infections, bleeding, blood clots, muscle weakness, scar tissue, decreased function, and other factors which can negatively impact your long-term health.
Why is Physical Therapy so Important Following Surgery?
There are many different types of surgeries, each of which has a specific impact on your body that must be carefully considered and addressed. Obviously, some surgeries are more invasive than others. But what almost all surgeries have in common is that they cause physical damage-damage that physical therapy is designed to repair as effectively as possible. Whether you are getting your knee replaced, heart surgery or surgery to repair your ACL, you are going to need physical therapy afterward to get you back on your feet.
The vast majority of surgeries result in symptoms like inflammation, pain, loss of mobility and swelling. Many of these symptoms may have existed before the surgery as well, which is why you have to get surgery in the first place. After surgery, you may face new difficulties like struggling to stand, walk, sit and even dress. There may also be things that you are instructed not to do by your doctor after the surgery. Physical therapy is designed to address all these issues and teach you what you need to know and how you need to move after your surgery.
Some of your doctor's instructions may be a bit confusing. The doctor may tell you to avoid bearing weight at all or to partially avoid bearing weight on your limb. Instructions can get even more technical, like telling you to follow "posterior hip precautions." How are you supposed to follow these instructions? And how do you follow instructions that you do not even really understand, to begin with?
Post-surgical rehab will cover everything you require after surgery, including clarifying medical terminology and helping you learn how to move without causing additional damage. There is plenty of evidence that rehab is effective, so you can rest assured that your hard work will pay off. Your rehab efforts have the additional benefits of not requiring pharmaceuticals to get results and being non-invasive. You get maximum results with minimal side effects.
How Does Post-Surgical Rehab with a Physical Therapist Work?
Working with a qualified physical therapist is one of the best things you can do after surgery. Each physical therapist is an expert in how the human body works and what is required to recover from an injury. They can accomplish a lot through targeted exercises and training, including:
- Helping to limit the inflammation, pain and swelling you experience
- Lessen the development of scar tissue and help wounds heal more quickly
- Assist in improving circulation, gaining strength and increasing range of motion
- Aid you in regaining functional mobility-the mobility that lets you do the things you love and the things you need to do like hobbies, sports and work
- Teach you how to use tools and adaptive equipment as needed for any changes you experience after surgery
Your physical therapist will conduct a careful examination after surgery to determine your current condition and will create a routine that includes exercises targeted towards your needs and guides you through those exercises. Physical therapists have numerous exercises, approaches and specialized pieces of equipment to help you achieve your recovery goals.
The time it takes for you to recover will depend on multiple factors, including your specific surgery and your level of fitness before surgery. It is possible to get physical therapy before surgery as well to improve your recovery time.
Get Post-Surgical Rehab Today
If you are going through surgery, we would like to help with your recovery. Contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physical therapists today.
