“I started seeing Dr. Luke after having ankle stabilization surgery in September 2017. Right from the start Dr. Luke had me working on balance and ankle exercises. What I found to be simple exercises turned out to be very creative and helped me regain my ankle strength well ahead of schedule. During every session, Dr. Luke managed my sessions himself and was very encouraging. Overall, his one-on-one approach was refreshing. I would recommend Coast Rehab and Dr. Luke for anyone needing physical therapy.”
Are you scheduled to have a surgical procedure soon? Among the many things you need to do to prepare is to talk to your doctor about scheduling your post-surgical rehabilitation!
What Is the Importance of Rehab After Surgery?
No matter what type of surgery you’re recovering from—from joint replacements to an ACL Reconstruction—undergoing rehab after surgery with a physical therapist is essential to maximize your physical potential, accelerate your recovery, and help you get the most out of the highly skilled interventions provided by your surgical team.
No matter how minimally invasive a surgical procedure is, it still causes trauma to your body. While your body is healing, you’ll likely experience challenges like pain, inflammation, and swelling. You may also have newfound difficulty with daily tasks like dressing, standing, and walking. You may even have specific instructions from your surgeon on things to do or things not to do in order to protect your healing surgical site and prevent complications.
For example, if you’ve had surgery to correct a broken bone in your leg, your doctor may tell you to be “non-weight bearing” or “partial weight bearing” for several weeks. If you’ve had a hip replacement, your doctor may require you to follow “posterior hip precautions.” If you’ve undergone surgical repair of a torn rotator cuff, your doctor may want you to restrict movement at your shoulder.
What do these precautions and restrictions mean? How can you learn to function in your daily life while complying with such restrictions? How might these restrictions affect your body (e.g., weakening of muscles due to disuse), and how can you minimize, prevent, or reverse these effects?
These are important questions and further show why working with a physical therapist for rehab after surgery is so critical.
Above all, post-surgical rehabilitation is an evidence-based, drug-free, and non-invasive way to regain your strength, balance, flexibility, and function following any type of surgery. Research even shows that physical therapy can reduce the amount of pain medication a person needs to use!
What to Expect From Post-Surgical Rehabilitation With a Physical Therapist
Physical therapists are experts in the human body who diagnose and treat a wide number of conditions. In post-surgical rehabilitation, physical therapists are key team members who can implement plans of care with the goal to:
- Reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation
- Accelerate wound healing and minimize scarring
- Improve circulation, range of motion, and strength
- Restore your functional mobility (your ability to move around in your environment and participate in activities and sports that you enjoy)
At your first post-surgical evaluation at COAST Rehab, your physical therapist will review your medical history and any relevant documentation from your surgeon. He or she will examine your surgical site, as well as other aspects of your health including strength, balance, pain level, range of motion, and flexibility. Finally, you and your physical therapist will go over your goals.
Based on all this information, your physical therapist will design and implement a customized plan of care and employ a variety of exercises and techniques to help you achieve your goals:
- Manual therapy such as joint mobilizations, massage, IASTM, or Functional Range Release
- Therapeutic exercises/ strength and conditioning
- Electrical stimulation
- Gait and balance training
- Neuromuscular re-education
- Ice and heat
- Patient education
- Home Exercise Program
Your physical therapist will periodically make reports on your progress and adjust your plan of care as necessary to ensure you’re progressing well. When your rehabilitation program is complete, your therapist will write a summary of your care and give you instructions and recommendations about things that will help you continue to progress (e.g., nutrition, stress management, sleep, exercise program, etc.).
How Long Does Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Take?
The amount of time you’ll spend in physical therapy rehabilitation depends on many complex factors, including age, overall health, type of surgery, athletic goals, and whether you experienced any complications. No matter what your unique situation looks like, patience and consistency is the key while you allow your body to heal.
A Physical Therapist Can Help You Before and After Your Surgery
Strong evidence shows that consulting with a physical therapist both before and after surgery can reduce your risk of complications and drastically improve your overall outcome. Even just a few pre-operative sessions can be effective in helping you prepare your body for the operation.
Do you have a surgery ahead of you? Contact Us today in Manasquan, Toms River, or to set up an appointment and learn more about how we can help you get the most out of your procedure.
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!