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Pre and post-surgical rehabilitation is frequently recommended for those undergoing orthopedic surgery. Foot, ankle, knee, hip, wrist, hand, shoulder, neck, and spine surgeries are examples of these procedures.
Rehab, on the other hand, can be beneficial for almost any type of surgical procedure. In fact, according to the American Physical Therapy Association, there are proven benefits to both pre-surgical rehabilitation AND post-surgical rehabilitation.
A physical therapist can create a pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation plan for a patient preparing for surgery. The following are some of the most important advantages of having a pre- and post-surgical rehab plan!
The advantages of working with a physical therapist on your surgical plan
A physical therapist can advise you on the best pre- and post-surgical plan for your specific needs. 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.
Additionally, according to the Arthritis Foundation, a study conducted by three universities in Boston — including Harvard — demonstrated that patients who engaged in pre-hab had much better outcomes following surgery.
You should schedule an appointment with a physical therapist as soon as you know when your surgery is scheduled. Before developing a customized prehab and rehab program, a therapist will most likely conduct a thorough physical examination.
Physical therapy can help you gain as much strength, stamina, flexibility, and range of motion as possible before and after surgery. A physical therapist may perform manual therapies and/or teach you exercises that you can do at home.
Heat, ice, or electrical stimulation may also be performed by a physical therapist. You’ll want to get started as soon as possible to ensure you’re ready for surgery and can recover quickly and completely.
How will post-surgical rehab benefit me?
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:
- Strength building: 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.
- Pain and swelling relief: 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.
- Enhanced 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.
How will pre-surgical rehab benefit me?
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:
- Reduced risk of 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.
- Peace of mind: 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.
- Speedy 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.
Get started on a PT treatment plan today
If you have a surgery planned, PT can help make your recovery as fast and easy as possible. Contact us today to get started on the first steps of your treatment plan, so you can get back to your life ASAP!
