If you’ve recently undergone surgery or plan to soon, your doctor has probably mentioned physical therapy. Most doctors recommend physical therapy after surgery for a variety of reasons. Here are just a few.
Physical Therapy Helps Speed Up the Healing Process
Recovering from surgery is not a passive experience. Unfortunately, you can’t just lay in bed and expect to heal properly from surgery – especially not with surgery on or around joints. Your body needs to move as it heals. In physical therapy after surgery, your therapist will assist you with stretches and exercises to help your body heal more effectively. If you were to remain immobile as you heal, scar tissue could form around your joints, making it hard to regain normal function. Physical therapy helps decrease the amount and effect of scar tissue at your surgery site.
Helping to Regain Function After Surgery with Physical Therapy
Obviously, you can’t return to your normal activities right after surgery – that’s a given. However, physical therapy can help you return to regular daily activities more quickly than without. One of the main goals of physical therapy after surgery is to help you regain normal function in the joints and muscles affected by your surgery. With customized exercises and stretches specifically for you, your physical therapist helps that happen. They will adjust your treatment as you heal and can do more physically. There is no exact plan for each type of surgery. The rehab program will be tailored to your body type.
Managing Pain After Surgery with Physical Therapy
You would think that physical therapy would be painful after surgery. And in all honesty, it sometimes can be. But your pain would be even more intense without moving and stretching the parts of your body impacted by the surgery. Physical therapy is designed to reduce pain after surgery and speed up the healing process.
Do you have surgery planned? Give us a call at Activity First Physical Therapy to learn how we can help you heal.