Physical therapy is an essential part of recovery after surgery. Post-operative physical therapy helps patients regain strength, mobility, and independence. It is an individualized treatment plan tailored to the patient’s specific needs to achieve maximum recovery and prevent future injuries. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of post-op physical therapy and the types of surgeries that commonly require it.
Benefits of Post-Op Physical Therapy:
- Reduces pain and inflammation: Surgery can leave the body feeling sore and inflamed. Physical therapy helps reduce pain and inflammation through various techniques, such as massage, ultrasound, and heat therapy.
- Restores mobility: Surgery can limit mobility and range of motion. Physical therapy can help restore mobility through exercises that target the affected area and improve flexibility.
- Prevents future injuries: Post-op physical therapy helps strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, and improve posture, reducing the risk of future injuries.
- Speeds up recovery: Physical therapy helps speed up the recovery process, allowing patients to return to their normal activities sooner.
Types of Surgeries that Commonly Require Post-Op Physical Therapy:
- Joint replacement surgeries: Joint replacement surgeries, such as hip and knee replacements, require extensive physical therapy to restore strength and mobility in the affected joint.
- Spinal surgeries: Spinal surgeries, such as laminectomies and discectomies, require physical therapy to reduce pain, improve mobility, and prevent future injuries.
- Orthopedic surgeries: Orthopedic surgeries, such as rotator cuff repairs and ACL reconstructions, require physical therapy to restore strength, mobility, and function to the affected area.
- Cardiac surgeries: Cardiac surgeries, such as bypass surgeries and heart valve replacements, require physical therapy to improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of future cardiac events.
Post-operative physical therapy is an integral part of the recovery process after surgery. It helps patients regain strength, mobility, and independence while reducing pain and the risk of future injuries. If you are scheduled for surgery, talk to your doctor about the benefits of post-op physical therapy and how it can help you achieve maximum recovery.