Surgery Coming Up? Physical Therapy Can Help Both Before AND After!

Understanding the Benefits of Physical Therapy - Both Before and After Surgical Procedures

It's a wise idea to work with a physical therapist both before and after surgery.

Working with a physical therapist prior to your operation -- sometimes referred to as "prehab" - can help you to prepare emotionally and physically for the surgery.

According to the American Physical Therapy Association, physical therapy can help not only with an overall wellness but also prevention.

When the operation is done, physical therapy can help to ensure a speedy and full recovery.

If you have an upcoming surgery planned, contact us to learn more about how physical therapy can help you with both preparation and recovery.

What does physical therapy look like before a surgical procedure?

Surgery is a frightening necessity for many people. They need to have the operation to improve their health in some fashion, but the idea of being placed under anesthetic and operated on is still fairly scary.

Working with a physical therapist beforehand can help alleviate these fears. In addition, you will have a good plan in place for your recovery after the surgery.

Working with a physical therapist before surgery can help you get ready for adjustments you will have to make in the immediate aftermath.

For example, your therapist can get you ready for riding in a car, moving around your home, your eventual return to work, and a post-operative exercise plan that won't harm your recovery. Your therapist can also recommend assistive devices that you may need after surgery, such as a cane or walker.

Part of the prehab work with a physical therapist may involve recommendations for setting up a "recovery zone" in your home.

For example, if your bedroom is on the second floor of your home, you might want to set up a bedroom or resting area on the first floor, to avoid having to use the stairs frequently after surgery.

Kitchen items that you might need to reach should be placed on lower shelves ahead of time, within easy reach. Physical therapy will be important for your recovery, but so will therapeutic rest. Have an area of your home prepared where you can comfortably sit, rest, and relax.

Exercise will also be a part of your physical therapy plan before surgery. Strength training, stretching for flexibility, and aerobic exercise to improve oxygen flow will all help you to recover more quickly after your operation.

Becoming fairly fit prior to surgery can even prevent the need for inpatient rehabilitation with a physical therapist.

What does physical therapy look like after a surgical procedure?

Your work with a physical therapist can begin soon after your surgery -- perhaps on the same day.

Depending on the type of operation that you have undergone, your therapist can teach you the proper ways for getting in and out of bed, using mobility assistance devices, getting dressed, and using the restroom.

From there, physical therapy will involve helping you with recovery and getting back to a normal life. A physical therapy exercise plan will be tailored toward gradually rebuilding your strength, without the risk of tearing any sutures or reinjuring yourself.

Remember that a physical therapist has many tools and techniques at their disposal, and they are trained specifically in the best methods to help you recover from an injury or surgery.

For example, you probably won't be heading into a gym for heavy weightlifting sessions after surgery, followed by a 10-mile run on a treadmill.

You are much more likely to go through water-based training sessions in a pool, to reduce strain on muscles recovering from surgery.

You may also learn assisted exercises in which your therapist or a helper at home can aid you in moving your limbs to contract muscles -- without straining or reinjuring anything.

What else should I know about pre-surgical and post-surgical rehabilitation plans?

You may be familiar with rehabilitation after surgery, or post-surgical rehab. It makes sense – your body loses a lot of strength when undergoing a surgical procedure, and rehabilitation treatments are needed in order to help you regain your function.

Post-surgical rehabilitation tends to focus on targeted exercises and stretches that are aimed at helping relieve your pain, improve your strength, and redeem your optimum function in the affected area(s) of your body.

It may also incorporate additional methods or modalities as needed, such as manual therapy, ice and heat therapies, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and more. Essentially, it helps you make a full recovery from your surgery.

Pre-surgical rehabilitation is a bit different. It focuses on stretches and exercises prior to surgery in order to prepare your body for the procedure ahead.

In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, participating in exercise therapies prior to surgery can exceptionally improve your post-operative outcomes and reduce your recovery time.

It is no secret that surgery takes a toll on the body, so preparing yourself beforehand with strengthening stretches and exercises can greatly benefit your results.

It can also help you prepare mentally, by giving you a better peace of mind going into surgery, knowing you did everything to make the procedure as easy on you as possible.

How can I get started?

If you have a planned surgery coming up and would like to know more about how physical therapy can help with your preparations and recovery, contact our office and schedule an appointment today.

Discover the Benefits of both Pre and Post-Surgical Rehabilitation!

Did You Know That You Could Benefit From Both Our Pre AND Post-Surgical Physical Therapy Services?

Pre and post surgical rehab is often recommended for those having orthopedic surgery. These types of surgeries could include foot, ankle, knee, hip, wrist, hand, shoulder, neck, and spine surgeries.

Rehab can, however, be beneficial for just about any type of surgical procedure. A physical therapist can put together both a pre and post-surgical rehabilitation plan for an individual preparing for surgery.

In fact, according to the American Physical Therapy Association, there are proven benefits to both pre-surgical rehabilitation AND post-surgical rehabilitation.

The following are several important benefits of having pre and post-surgical rehab.

The benefits of physical therapy for surgical recovery

A trained physical therapist can advise you regarding the best prehab and post-surgical plan for your specific needs. As soon as you know when your surgery is scheduled you’ll want to make an appointment with a physical therapist.

A therapist will likely do a complete physical assessment before creating a unique prehab and rehab program.

Physical therapy treatment can help you achieve as much strength, stamina, flexibility, and improved range of motion as possible both before and after your surgery. A physical therapist may use a variety of manual therapies or teach you exercises you can do at home.

A therapist might also use heat, ice, or electrical stimulation. You’ll want to get started as soon as possible to make sure you’re prepared for surgery and can make a quick and full recovery.

What’s the purpose of pre-surgical rehabilitation?

Many people fear the harsh recoveries that follow surgical procedures. This is especially true for anyone who has had a total joint replacement. Faced with the knowledge of time spent in a rehabilitation hospital, many people delay joint replacement surgery out of fear for the long, difficult recovery ahead.

Fortunately, pre-hab can help significantly reduce recovery time. Did you know that by partaking in preventative rehabilitation, you can reduce your odds of needing inpatient rehabilitation by 73 percent? If you are stronger before surgery, you will meet your physical milestones much quicker after surgery, decreasing your recovery time by days or even weeks.

For example, patients who undergo total knee replacement surgery are typically expected to walk 500-1,000 feet 24 hours after their procedure.

This may sound like a difficult task; however, those who participate in pre-hab before their surgery are much more likely to meet this demand than those who do not. Pre-hab provides patients with the stretches, strengthening exercises, and pain-relieving techniques they need for a smooth and speedy recovery.

Rehabilitation after surgery

It’s important to start a post-surgical rehabilitation plan as soon as your doctor states that you’re ready.

The following are a few of the benefits of post-surgical rehab.

  • Regain Lost Strength– The more quickly you regain strength and stamina, the more quickly you’ll get back to your daily routine. A physical therapy program can be designed to target the specific areas in your body that need strengthened after surgery.
  • Reduce Pain and Swelling– The right type of post-surgical treatment can help reduce the amount of pain and swelling you experience after your surgery. Icing and ultrasound are both techniques a physical therapist may use to reduce localized swelling and pain. According to PT in Motion News, patients that received the same day, post-operative physical therapy needed fewer opioids after knee surgery.
  • Improve Circulation– Improved circulation not only facilitates faster healing but reduces the chance of a blood clot forming. Something as simple as massage can improve circulation. Many types of basic exercises and simple movements prescribed by a physical therapist can promote increased blood circulation.

Rehabilitation before surgery

This is often called prehabilitation, and it helps an individual prepare physically and mentally for a surgical procedure.

There are several benefits of going to rehab before your surgery.

  • Less Anxiety– Patients that have undergone some sort of prehab are often less prone to anxiety or stress prior to the surgery. Starting a process of physical activity that improves strength, endurance, and flexibility can improve overall confidence that the procedure will be successful.
  • Fewer Complications– The weaker and more frail an individual is, the more likely it is that the person will experience complications such as infection after a surgical procedure. Prehab can increase strength and immunity prior to surgery.
  • Faster Recovery– Learning the exercises you’ll need to do before surgery trains your muscles in advance. This will make post-surgical rehab easier and more effective. PT in Motion News states that even a few sessions of physical therapy prior to surgery can reduce post operative care for some patients.

Recover faster today!

Are you looking for a speedy recovery after your surgery? Of course you are!

Contact us today to get started on both a pre and post-surgical rehabilitation plan to optimize your results!

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