May 20th, 2022
Do You Have a Surgery Coming Up? We Can Help
If you are planning major surgery in the near future, it would be in your best interest to also schedule an appointment with a physical therapist. Pre-operative and post-operative rehabilitation have been proven to help significantly in patients undergoing surgical procedures.
Physical rehab both before and after surgery can have a huge positive impact on your ability to recover faster and more fully. Let's examine what happens when you implement these two forms of physical therapy, and how our physical therapist can use them to optimize your surgical success!
Physical therapy can significantly improve surgical outcomes
Your physical therapist can discuss your current health status and imminent surgery with you, and then figure out a detailed treatment plan that includes both preoperative and postoperative rehabilitation. You may even begin treatments several weeks before your procedure, as recommended by your physical therapist. Strength and flexibility training may also be prominent aspects of your personalized treatment plan.
Your physical therapist will recommend that you begin your post-operative physical therapy program at a reasonable time after your surgery. In addition to strength and range-of-motion exercises, your physical therapist may also recommend stability training, kinesio taping, massage therapy, cold laser therapy, cryotherapy, or electrical muscle stimulation. These techniques can all complement one another to produce synergistic healing effects.
Whatever pre-surgical and post-surgical rehabilitation routine you undertake, it is definitely worth undertaking. A study of patients with knee construction surgery found that those who underwent pre-and post-operative rehabilitation did not only heal more quickly after surgery - they also continued to enjoy better long-term outcomes (up to two years later) than those who did not participate in rehabilitation services.
If that sounds like the kind of outcome you want, you owe it to yourself to contact a physical therapist!
Physical therapy can help you heal faster and more comfortably
After you've had your surgery, you'll want to schedule a course of post-surgical rehabilitation to continue the good work you started with pre-hab. It's important to get moving again, to whatever degree is considered safe and beneficial, as soon as possible after your procedure.
Post-surgical physical therapy offers a controlled environment for a swifter, less complicated recuperation by:
- Helping you regain your balance after an extended period off of your feet
- Discouraging the development of unwanted scar tissue (which might interfere with muscle, skin or connective tissue motion, leaving you with long-term pain and stiffness)
- Re-training you to use a part of your body that was unusable before the surgery
- Easing your post-operative discomfort naturally by boosting blood flow and encouraging fluid drainage
- Ensuring that your joints regain their preoperative flexibility and range of motion
- Helping muscles regain their strength and function
“Pre-hab” can help you!
Pre-surgical rehabilitation belongs to the category of preventive care known as pre-hab. A study done by the APTA shows that out of the 5,852 of patients who received rehab, 52% of them did rehab before their surgery.
During this process, the patient will work directly with the physical therapist to improve the strength, durability, movement, and functionality in the areas and areas around where the surgery will take place.
The aim of pre-hab is to make the body as ready as possible for the difficult procedure ahead. In fact, even athletes often undergo pre-hab training to help them prepare for a grueling sporting event that may cause injury to weak muscles or connective tissues.
This strategy makes just as much sense to people who expect to undergo surgery. For example, if you need reconstructive surgery on your knee, you may be engaged in several weeks of physical therapy exercise to maximize the flexibility, strength, and overall wellness of your knee before the date of surgery. This preparation makes it easier for the knee to withstand surgery itself and paves the way for a smooth recovery.
Get started on the best treatment plan for your needs
We can help provide you with some peace of mind, both before and after your surgery. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get started on the first steps of your treatment plan!
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