Physiotherapy After Surgery

Physiotherapy After Surgery

Physiotherapy services is highly needed after cases of orthopedic surgery. This will alleviate pain. Moreover, it speeds up healing, strengthens the muscles etc. Often times, the post-operative physiotherapy protocol that patients are subjected to is important to their full recovery and restoration.

Firstly, Physiotherapy is necessary for a variety of surgical procedures including orthopedic, cardiac, thoracic, neurological and abdominal surgery. All types of surgery which present a number of post operative consequences can be helped with physiotherapy.
These include:

• Orthopedic pain, reduced strength, reduced range of movement, postural problems, swelling, balance and coordination problems
• Cardiac/ thoracic- pain, reduced exercise levels, breathing difficulties, reduced mobility, postural problems
• Weakness, breathing difficulty reduced mobility, muscle shortening, loss of sensation
• Abdominal, breathing difficulties, continence problems, reduced mobility
• Additional problems experienced following the surgery include infection, reduced lung function and deep vein thrombosis.         

Post-surgery physiotherapy occurs in three ways namely:

• The early recovery stage
• The strength and range of motion stage
• Lastly the functional restoration stage

Physiotherapy in the Early Recovery Stage

This commences as soon as patients are discharged from surgery and sustained until their tissues have healed especially when the swelling that is associating with surgery has subsided. In other words, the aim of therapy at this stage is to restore joint range of motion. During this period, the consulting Physiotherapist focuses on:

• Pain relief
• Reducing swelling
• Gentle manual therapy
• Prescribing aids like walkers or canes and instructing on their use
• Simple exercises to begin to regain muscle function without disrupting healing.

Physiotherapy in the Strength and Range of Motion Phase

Subject to significant recuperation and reduction in post pain and swelling the physiotherapy sessions will now focus on normalizing the range of motion, mechanics and strength of the body. Post physiotherapy sessions will likely include the following

• More difficult strength exercises
• The introduction of some balance and proprioception tasks
• More aggressive manual therapy to restore full joint range of motion
• Soft tissue treatment to ensure you regain full mobility

Physiotherapy in the Functional Restoration Phase

Once your surgical site has properly set and your strength has returned sufficiently to do more complex exercises safely, you will advance into the functional restoration phase of your post physiotherapy program. You need to prepare All through this period of time you may be doing some of the following;

• A progression of exercises designed to meet a complex functional goal
• More difficult and complex balance and proprioception exercises
• Manual therapy to restore full joint range of motion (if not already achieved)

What are the benefits of Post Surgical Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy after surgery should begin immediately in hospital. However, it is important that once you have been discharged you continue physiotherapy to achieve the best recovery possible. We will encourage you to carry out a range of exercises to strengthen and mobilize any affected joints and muscles. This will in turn help to improve circulatory or respiratory problems that may have developed in hospital.        

In addition, other benefits include:

• Effective pain and stress management
• Help you return to activities of daily living
• Strengthening of weak muscles
• Stretching muscles that may have become stiffened
• Improving your posture
• Regain your independence
• Reduce any anxiety that you may have and regain your confidence
• Mobilizations exercises to improve circulation and range of movement
• Help clear any secretions, improve lung volumes and prevent chest infections
• Advice on effective positioning to increase comfort and reduce the risk of pressure sores

Who will benefit from Effective Physiotherapy?

Most importantly, anyone who has had surgery will benefit from effective physiotherapy. Secondly, those who are experiencing pain, stiffness, reduced balance and coordination, muscle weakness, reduced mobility, low exercise tolerance and reduced independence will benefit from Physiotherapy sessions. Surgery can have both physical and psychological effects which may influence your recovery and cause frustration and anxiety. Our physiotherapist will carry out a full assessment and work with you to create short and long-term goals to help you to maximize your recovery potential and reduce any secondary problems to surgery.    

 In conclusion, it is extremely important to choose a proficient physiotherapist to give you top-notch professional after-surgery care. Effective Physiotherapy and Fitness Clinic can help out with this. Like to call us? 0803 436 5055 / 0909 860 4470 is the number to dial !

You will like to hear out the testimonies of some of our clients. See our youtube channel here (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLq3wmHr4E7Qkuq7xNmB2E8IgdIQ-HIZdK).