Post-Surgical Rehab
Post-surgical rehab can be a long process. After surgery, rehabilitation can take months and even up to a year in some cases. It’s important for postoperative patients to realize this. Whether it’s knee surgery, shoulder surgery, or another type of surgery, the recovery period will take time. The actual timeframe for post-surgical rehab depends on many factors, including the intensity of the surgery. Your tissues need to be worked on by a physical therapist, as they cannot recover on their own. These tissues also need time to heal and mature. The core of post-surgical rehabilitation is doing the right exercises and the right amount of exercises. The intensity of the stimulation should increase gradually and progressively as you heal.
The Benefits of Physical Therapy After Surgery in Redmond, WA
Most doctors and other medical professionals recommend physical therapy after having an operation because of its many benefits. The benefits of physical therapy post-op include:
- Promotion of healing
- Regain mobility
- Faster recovery
- Involvement in rehabilitation
- Address postoperative pain
- Reduce scar tissue formation
It is important for the body to heal after an operation. This could be to heal scar tissue or to retrain the muscles after surgery. With a physical therapist in Redmond, Washington, patients can have a treatment plan designed specifically for their type of surgery. Surgeons diagnose and fix injuries; physical therapists improve the way you feel and function after surgery.
Surgeries in the lower extremities, especially the hips and knees, require physical therapy to regain mobility and flexibility. Physical therapy helps those injured return to their regular activities and daily tasks. Daily activities, such as walking and gardening, are possible again. Physical therapists understand the different stages of healing and know how to develop a treatment plan that speeds up recovery, so patients can return to their active lifestyle.
What to Expect
When developing a treatment plan, physical therapists always take into account pre-op fitness state and post-op goals. They access muscles and joints above and below the surgery site. It’s a collaborative relationship. Our physical therapists develop specific exercise plans for each patient. Patients can learn the exercises with the physical therapist and then do them on their own at home. Patients give physical therapists continual feedback about their progress and have a lot of input. Physical therapists may also provide passive treatments, such as manual massage, ultrasound, and cold and hot therapies.
Therapy is usually divided into separate stages. The first phase comes immediately after surgery when the affected body part may be immobilized while pain and swelling start to reduce. Then comes a series of progressive exercises to improve range of motion, stability, and function. The last goal is to return the patient to a pre-injury activity level.
Physical therapy after surgery can put one on a faster track to recovery. Why let recovery take longer? Take advantage of physical therapy services if you’ve had surgery. Contact Bridle Trails today at our Redmond, WA office and get started on your road to recovery.
Be sure to check out our Health Blog for tips on managing pain and living a healthy life!