Why Is Physical Therapy Important After Surgery?

Physical therapy is necessary for recovery after surgery. Whether you receive breast cancer treatment, hip replacement, or open-heart surgery, it is vital after all those procedures. The rehabilitation speeds up healing and helps you learn how to care for yourself in the best way. It also enables you to resume your daily activities with ease.

Your physical therapist has the appropriate knowledge concerning all surgical procedures. They also know the proper exercises to use post-surgery. At Brookdale Health they can tailor your treatment to ensure long-term success by improving your healing and general well-being.

Everyone aims to recover after any surgical procedure fully and quickly. Most surgeries leave patients immobilized, depressed, in pain, and helpless. Read on to find out the importance of physical therapy after surgery.

Improves Strength, Balance, and Mobility

Surgery can limit mobility in the operated area of your body. Your body will naturally respond by protecting the part that goes through trauma. As a result, you can experience tissue or muscle tightness, spasms, limited range of motion, or swelling.

Physical therapy can help you regain your mobility after surgery. It does so through manual techniques such as myofascial release and strengthening exercises.

Your balance and stability can also improve through exercises that focus on strengthening your pelvis, back, and core. You can recover tremendously after procedures like hip or knee replacement.

Eases Swelling and Pain

Healing after surgery involves swelling. The swelling can vary from one patient to another. Your nerve endings also get stimulated and thus create pain. Physical therapy entails movements and exercises that help reduce swelling. They also prevent the worsening of surgery pain. Your mobility and healing improve with reduced swelling.

Reduces Formation of Scar Tissue

Healing after a surgical procedure entails the formation of scar tissue and the contracting of your soft tissue. Scarring commonly happens after any surgery. However, excess scar tissue can reduce movement and function after the surgical procedure for many months.

Your therapist can help you by performing different tissue mobilization techniques. They may also include ultrasound and massage therapies to help soften the scar tissue. Doing so will have a significant improvement on your flexibility over time.

Reduces Risk of Secondary Issues Developing

Surgery can have risks that occur afterward, such as blood clots or infections. Physical therapy reduces the risk of such complications happening. Your physical therapist will tailor exercises and movements to decrease secondary complications.

Improves Flexibility

You can get a further injury due to being inactive and causing your muscles to weaken and become stiff. Your activities get affected when your joints and muscles are stiff. You may struggle to reach for things, climb stairs, or move from one point to another.

Physical therapy after surgery is ideal as it helps your soft tissues recover. You will begin with gentle stretching exercises to keep your muscles limber. Plan to participate in the therapeutic sessions for at least six to eight weeks. It takes this long to heal your soft tissues.

The surgery you get will determine whether your therapy will be inpatient, outpatient, or a combination. Your therapist will also give you some exercises as homework to improve your flexibility.

For more about physical therapy, visit Brookdale Health at our office in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Call (763) 561-4045 to book an appointment today.