What Is Post-Surgical Rehab and Why Is It Important for Recovery?
Surgery can treat diseases, repair injuries, improve bodily functions, and enhance appearance. However, it is only the first step to recovery because of the several physical and emotional challenges accompanying surgery. After surgery, you may experience severe pain, restricted mobility, and limited physical function. Hence, there is a need for post-surgical rehabilitation.
Post-surgical rehabilitation helps patients recover safely and effectively after surgery and aims to restore joint function, muscle strength, and mobility while preventing complications. The foremost healthcare practice employed in post-surgical rehabilitation is physical therapy. You can get rehab for all kinds of surgery- orthopedic surgery (bone, joint, and muscles), breast surgery (resections and reconstructions), obstetric and gynecological surgery (postnatal, hysterectomy, etc.), abdominal and thoracic surgery (lungs, heart, liver, gastrointestinal system, etc.), urological surgery (bladder and prostate), and spinal and neurological surgery (brain, spinal, disc replacements/repairs).
What Does Post-Surgical Rehabilitation Entail?
Post-surgical rehabilitation typically begins immediately after surgery. The post-surgical rehabilitation program you will undergo may differ, depending on the type of surgery you have had, your overall health, your age, your recovery duration, and some other factors. However, the following are some common components of post-surgical rehabilitation that you may experience in Amityville:
Comprehensive Evaluation
This is the first step during post-surgical rehabilitation in Merrick, NY. A physical therapist will conduct a thorough assessment of your condition, pain levels, mobility, strength, and balance to determine the best rehabilitation program that meets your treatment needs and goals.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an essential part of post-surgical rehabilitation. This healthcare specialty focuses on promoting, maintaining, and restoring physical health through several non-invasive techniques and patient education. Since surgical procedures take a toll on physical health, post-surgical rehabilitation employs physical therapy techniques to improve mobility, strength, and physical function.
Pain Management Techniques
Pain and discomfort are some of the most common immediate effects of surgery. Pain can slow healing and make the recovery process frustrating. Therefore, post-surgical rehabilitation employs physical therapy pain management techniques, such as manual therapy, to relieve and manage pain.
Therapeutic Exercises
These refer to bodily movements designed to correct an impairment, restore muscular and skeletal function, or maintain a state of well-being. After surgery, your physical therapist may include therapeutic exercises in your post-surgical rehabilitation program to help you regain range of motion, flexibility, joint function, and mobility. Therapeutic exercises can also help to rebuild the muscles and functional strength.
Scar Tissue Management
Scar tissues are a collection of cells, collagen, and fibrous tissues that form when the body repairs damaged skin or other tissues to cover the injury site. However, scar tissues may cause discomfort and restrict mobility and physical function. During post-surgical rehabilitation, you may undergo scar tissue management techniques, such as pressure therapy, massage, silicone sheets, cryotherapy, etc.
Patient Education and Home Exercise Programs
Post-surgical rehabilitation starts immediately after surgery and continues till full recovery. Therefore, your physical therapist may outline some dos and don'ts for effective recovery. Physical therapists may also develop home exercise programs to quicken recovery and return to work.
Physical therapists are at the center of the provision of post-surgical rehabilitation. However, other professionals, such as occupational therapists, rehabilitation specialists, speech-language pathologists, chiropractors, etc, may be involved in post-surgical rehabilitation.
Why is Post-Surgical Rehabilitation Important For Recovery?
Physical therapy is the backbone of post-surgical rehabilitation. It is an essential part of the recovery process that should not be avoided to prevent complications and ensure effective rehabilitation. If you undergo surgical procedures, such as orthopedic, spinal, neurological, obstetric, gynecological, abdominal, thoracic, breast, or urological surgery, you may be at risk of several postoperative consequences. However, post-surgical rehabilitation can help to reduce and manage your risks of developing these postoperative implications. Why is post-surgical rehabilitation important for people who have undergone surgery?
Pain Relief and Management
Pain, inflammation, and swelling are some of the most common effects of surgery. While some pain at the surgical site is normal, persistent pain, swelling, and inflammation for weeks to months after surgery may indicate a complication. However, post-surgical rehabilitation can help manage post-surgical discomfort, reducing inflammation, swelling, and the need for pain medications.
Muscle Strengthening
Muscle atrophy is the loss of muscle mass and strength due to inactivity, aging, disease, and other factors. It is a common effect of surgery, occurring due to mobility restrictions and inactivity during post-surgical recovery. This condition causes a drastic reduction in muscle size, strength, and function. However, post-surgical rehabilitation can prevent or manage muscle atrophy through targeted exercises designed to maintain or restore muscle strength and function.
Improved Mobility, Flexibility, and Physical Function
You are likely to experience restricted mobility and physical function after a major surgical procedure. It is normal to experience a limited range of motion after surgery due to stiffness in the surgical site from swelling and pain. However, post-surgical rehabilitation improves the range of motion and helps you regain mobility, flexibility, and physical function after surgery.
Scar Tissue Reduction
Scar tissues are a collection of cells, collagen, and fibrous tissues that form when the body repairs damaged skin or other tissues to cover the injury site. Scar tissue formation at the surgical site is normal after surgery. However, scar tissues may cause discomfort and restrict mobility. Post-surgical rehabilitation can soften scar tissue, reduce pain, and improve mobility.
Promotion of Healing
Post-surgical rehabilitation can promote healing by improving circulation and breathing through physical therapy techniques. Physical therapy can improve the blood flow to the surgical area, reducing inflammation and ensuring the delivery of oxygen and essential nutrients for faster recovery.
Reduction of Complication Risks
Since surgery is an invasive procedure, you may be at risk of complications due to inadequate post-surgical care. Some common complications that you may experience after surgery include infections, blood clots, urinary retention, bleeding, and reactions to anesthesia. Post-surgical rehabilitation reduces or eliminates the risks of developing post-surgical complications by providing a safe environment and practices.
Conclusion
Post-surgical rehab is an essential part of the recovery process after surgery. This procedure helps to mitigate the effects of surgery, reduce complications, and ensure a quick healing and recovery process. If you have undergone a surgical procedure, consider post-surgical rehabilitation at Summit Physical Therapy to complete your recovery process and improve your overall quality of life.
