There are several key reasons why rehab after surgery is critical to your recovery. Physical rehab, in particular, will bring greater mobility, flexibility, and strength to the areas affected by your surgery. Working with a physical therapist means you’ll be expanding your team of treatment partners to design the best recovery plan possible.
Surgery is a long and often risky process for attempting to resolve a problem. After surgery, your body takes tremendous shock and trauma. This is why we try to avoid invasive surgery as much as possible. However, if you do need to undergo surgery, your body will need time to repair itself and rebuild its strength. Without physical rehab, your body becomes numb to movement, but this therapy can restore your strength, vigor and positive attitude.
Physical therapy creates a sense of completion that otherwise would wilt under lack of progress.
Physical therapy is important to recovery after surgery because it helps with:
- Breaking up tight, or inelastic, tissues
- Increasing mobility of joints in all directions
- Regaining strength in the muscles affected
Breaking Up Tight Tissues With Physical Rehab Means Less Pain
Reducing pain is the first step in healing from surgery. Rehab after surgery will promote a healthy and healing environment at the incision point and surrounding areas. Physical rehab also helps reduce inflammation through targeted, hands-on breaking up of tight tissues that hinder healing.
The head, neck and spine are notorious for tightening up before, during and after surgery. You’ll want a physical therapist who specializes in that area of the body to apply the appropriate pressure that reduces pain, increases mobility, and improves quality of life during recovery.
Moving Joints In Both Directions With A Physical Therapist Increases Mobility
Pain relief is just the stepping stone. True freedom is mobility. Mobility is achieved through regular physical therapy appointments that complement an overall pain relief program – a process by you which you must be actively working on at home, as well as with your PT, for best results.
True healing and recovery can only be achieved through a predetermined rehab plan after surgery. Rehabilitation means stretching, strengthening and mobilizing joints that once were dormant. Whether rehab after surgery occurs in the hospital or after you’ve gone home, it will most likely return you to normal functioning. This is true for any age, either gender, and every nationality. Every body can return to normal with the right physical regimen, which will include some behavior changes for the patient.
Feeling Strong Again Through Physical Therapy Brings Great Relief
Relief can be defined as mental or physical. Which will you feel when you can walk without pain again? Or lift a glass to your mouth without shaking? Or make a trip to the store without the cane or automatic wheelchair? There are a lot of nuances to rehab after surgery; physical therapy should be your top priority.
Physical therapists are trained to target specific zones of recovery that enable greater functioning. They work all day with patients in varying circumstances that need the mobility, strength, and relief that you seek. Working with a physical therapist is key to your recovery. They can pinpoint the specific remedies you need to make sure your surgery was as successful as possible. But, without physical therapy, you will likely grow stiff and resistant to any treatment.
A physical therapist holds the key to your final step in recovery, so don’t hesitate to open the door to a better future by discussing a rehabilitation plan with your surgeon and care team.
