Did You Know Rehabilitation Can Help You Before Surgery, Too?
It doesn’t matter what kind of surgery you may have to go through, operations are traumatic experiences—even in the best of circumstances. If you undergo a surgery of any kind, you are making the decision to put your body and wellbeing into the hands of another individual to repair what is broken. You’re also accepting that the process will cause you to become weaker before it allows you to become stronger.
If and when you are faced with the option for surgical correction of any condition, you should do your part in ensuring that it is going to be as effective as possible in helping you to feel better. This does not include sitting at home and waiting for your surgical date to arrive. In many situations, physical therapy can help you both before and after your operation!
If you have a surgery scheduled in the near future, contact our clinic to learn more about pre-hab options. Our skilled physical therapists are ready to work with your physician and/or surgeon to make sure your surgery and recovery go as smoothly as possible.
Why choose physical therapy?
Not only is physical therapy an excellent choice for injury recovery and prevention, it’s also highly recommended for rehabilitation after surgical intervention for the following conditions.
- Neck and back injuries
- Knee, ankle, or foot injuries
- Hip injuries
- Shoulder injuries
Physical therapy following surgical treatment has become mostly common practice for many rehabilitation programs, but the option to pursue physical therapy prior to surgery is still largely left up to the determination of the patient.
Engaging in the physical therapy process before undergoing your operation for the correction of torn tissue or muscle can make a huge difference in your recovery process.
What can pre-hab do for you?
According to Arthritis.org, “Studies show that knee and hip replacement surgery patients who had participated in water- and land-based strength training, aerobic and flexibility exercises for six weeks prior to their surgeries reduced their odds of needing inpatient rehabilitation by up to 73 percent.”
Pre- and post-operative rehab can assist with strength and healing. Always consult with your surgeon before beginning any new kind of treatment program. It may be worth it to contact a physical therapist as soon as you find out you need a surgical procedure to begin preparing your body for what will be a difficult but rewarding road to recovery.
Physical therapy generally focuses on three important phases: pain relief, strengthening, and functional integration. Some people are skeptical about the effectiveness and safety of physical therapy because they believe it will hurt them; however, the opposite is usually true. Physical therapy is aimed at pain relief and strengthening, not causing you more discomfort!
Physical therapy will help with the process of:
- Reducing pain symptoms in the targeted areas
- Improving range of motion before and after surgery
- Restoring strength
- Healing damaged tissues and muscles
- Speeding up recovery
- Decreasing chances of re-injury after surgery
Your physical therapist will also provide you with exercises that you can continue to do at home to ensure that you are able to help yourself push towards the strongest and fastest post-operative recovery.
Benefits of physical therapy for pre- and post-operation
A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in the past year found that individuals who began a physical therapy program prior to having surgery ended up having better outcomes following surgery. Specifically, those who went through a 5-week pre-hab program, followed by one year of post-operative rehabilitative support were significantly more likely to feel a full return to strength and range of motion following their injury.
People who choose to participate in a physical therapy program both before and after their surgical experience actually returned to full functional strength faster than those who did not engage in any physical therapy. As many as 95% of participants in the rehabilitation program were within the normative range of strength and mobility just two years following their surgical date.
Ensure a safe and smooth recovery; call us today
The end goal with physical therapy is always to be able to live the life you want, free from painful restrictions. This can only happen if you cooperate with your physical therapist and continue to do the stretches and exercises you learn.
Our physical therapists are attentive and dedicated, and will encourage you to achieve all the goals you set for yourself in the beginning of treatment. If you have a surgery coming up, now is the right time to contact Choice Therapy to learn about your pre and post-surgical rehabilitation options.