Getting surgery of any kind is a big deal. Whether it’s knee, ankle, shoulder, or back surgery – it will take some time to heal and get back to your normal activities. The recovery process is an important part of your surgery process. And part of the recovery process from surgery is physical therapy. Skipping physical therapy puts you at risk of not healing properly. Read on to learn more.
Physical Therapy Rehab After Surgery
The role of physical therapy after any kind of surgery is to help your body heal while regaining normal function. Your physical therapists use exercises, stretches, posture training, and other methods to strengthen the tissues and muscles surrounding the surgery site. Most doctors recommend starting physical therapy relatively soon after surgery. It’s important to remember that your physical therapist will never push your body past what it’s capable of.
No Physical Therapy After Surgery: What Happens?
While your body will heal with or without physical therapy, you do take a risk by skipping the rehab process. If you were to avoid physical therapy or not complete your treatment, you could severely hinder your recovery process. Avoiding physical therapy could lead to:
- Less blood flow to the surgical site, which could prolong the healing process
- Weak muscles and/or muscle atrophy
- Stress on the surrounding muscles and joints
- Pain and aching in the surrounding area
- Inhibited range of motion in surrounding joints
- Limited physical activity
If you’ve recently had surgery, or are planning on getting surgery soon, don’t put off the physical therapy process. The sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll be able to get back to your everyday activities. For any questions about the physical therapy process or to get started, give Activity First PT a call today.