The Role of Physical Therapy in Post-Surgical Recovery
Surgery and healing after surgery can be arduous, especially if you don’t start physical therapy almost immediately. After surgery, the body feels sore, stiff, and painful. Simple, daily movements like standing, sitting, and reaching for an item become difficult. This is because the more invasive the surgery, the more likely it is to cause pain.
After surgery, you need post-surgical rehabilitation. This treatment plan is as necessary as the surgery you just underwent. It focuses on helping you heal properly, reducing scar tissue, and preventing future injury.
This article explores post-surgical recovery, surgeries that require treatment, and what to expect during treatment. Please read along!
The Importance of Post-Surgical Rehab
Studies show that post-surgical rehabilitation improves outcomes after surgery, such as increased range of motion, less pain, and reduced risk for future complications. With physical therapy in Merrick playing a crucial role in the process of recovery, the specificity of the exercises and therapeutic techniques that promote restoration of the body are done in the safest, most effective way.
You may assume that surgery requires a period of rest during which the body does all the work of healing. Yet without movement after surgery and proper rehabilitation, you can develop stiffness where there was none before, weaknesses in musculature, or even complications. Some people also develop excess fibrosis (scar tissue), which complicates the range of motion.
Skipping post-operative rehabilitation can even result in decreased strength, increased stiffness, and a loss of balance and coordination. Recovery time from the surgery may also take longer, and the chances of developing a reinjury when carrying out daily activities will increase.
Fortunately, physical therapy in Merrick helps with recovery after surgery. The treatment emphasizes appropriate movement, strength, and flexibility to facilitate a safe and productive recovery.
How Physical Therapy Helps You After Surgery
Whether you’ve undergone knee, shoulder, joint replacement, or any other surgery, physical therapy can be beneficial. Here are a few ways this treatment option can
1. Pain Management
It's natural to feel pain after surgery. While surgeons provide medication to numb the pain, physical therapy Merrick manages pain naturally through several techniques such as range of motion exercises, heat and cold therapy, massage therapy and electrical stimulation.
The range-of-motion exercises are usually simple and gentle. They improve blood circulation to the surgical area, minimizing swelling and relieving pain. Heat and cold therapy also loosen tight muscles and reduce swelling.
Massage therapy is hands-on and requires specific techniques to ease muscle tension. Electrical stimulation, on the other hand, requires the application of electric impulses to reduce the pain signals sent to the brain.
2. Better Movement and Function
There's no going back after surgery. Your body will experience decreased mobility during this time. Fortunately, physical therapists in Merrick consider your condition and healing progress before creating a unique treatment plan. The plan will focus on improving your mobility and strengthening your muscles.
3. Balance and Coordination
Certain surgeries (knee surgeries, spinal fusions) affect your ability to stand up straight. Whether you've been in some pain for so long that this is your way of living or a new limited range of motion, it's an uncomfortable situation to find yourself standing.
Therefore, Merrick's physical therapy includes balance exercises to reinvigorate skills you might have had before surgery or to prevent falls if standing and walking are now part of your daily life. These exercises promote patient ownership.
4. Extra Scar Tissue Prevention
Whether it's an ACL tear or sports-related injury that requires surgery, as soon as your surgery cuts heal and a wound closure happens, your body is left with scar tissue from that surgical intervention. While some are necessary, too much excessive scar tissue creates stiffness and contraction, limiting range of motion.
Merrick physical therapy can avoid this using techniques like stretching exercises to promote flexibility in the affected area. Massage therapy also eliminates excess scar tissue while range-of-motion exercises ensure that the joints remain active. Starting physical therapy early after your surgery can significantly improve your outcomes
5. Personalized Recovery Schedule
Everybody’s recovery is different. A physical therapy Merrick session is customized for what's required for you, for the surgery performed, and for your general health. Thus, your therapist will assess your baseline strength, flexibility, and pain tolerance. They then create a recovery routine.
If necessary, your therapist will adjust exercises based on your capability as the sessions continue. Thus, your recovery is scheduled for you, not too quick or too slow for your needs.
Surgeries That Need Physical Therapy
There are many surgeries that require post-surgical rehab. The most frequent are shoulder, spine, abdominal, knee, and cardiac surgery. Regardless of the surgical procedure you had or the level of its invasiveness, physical therapy Merrick can help you acclimate your body, reduce pain, and restore functionality.
What Should You Expect From Post-Operative Physical Therapy?
Post-operative physical therapy is different for every surgery. However, the steps involved are similar.
When starting out, your therapist will first assess the extent of your injury and pain, range of motion, and strength. They will also consider your medical history before creating a customized treatment plan. This plan will include several physical therapy techniques and modalities to address your situation.
Depending on your condition, you may have multiple in-clinic sessions. As you move along in your treatment, your therapist will adjust the treatment plan to match your rate of recovery. You will also receive an at-home exercise program to quicken your recovery.
In conclusion
While it may be some time before you feel like yourself again, post-surgical physical therapy can ease the transition and get you back to your regular routine sooner rather than later. Merrick physical therapy helps patients acclimate to reduced pain and improved function, avoiding additional issues down the line.
Don't wait if you or someone you know needs Merrick post-surgical physical therapy. Start your journey to recovery today. You deserve to feel like yourself again—pain-free and filled with confidence!
