While surgery may be necessary to address certain injuries, recovery after surgery is just as crucial for a full return to your normal life. This process can be optimized through prehabilitation and rehabilitation.
Prehabilitation: Preparing Your Body for Surgery
While surgery may be necessary to address certain injuries, prehabilitation can significantly enhance your post-surgical journey. Seeing a physiotherapist before surgery offers several advantages:
- Set realistic expectations: A physio can explain what to expect regarding pain levels and limitations throughout recovery after surgery.
- Understanding the procedure: Prehabilitation sessions can clarify what will happen during surgery, reducing anxiety.
- Goal setting: A physiotherapist will help you establish achievable recovery goals, outlining what you can and cannot do after surgery.
- Clear communication: They can answer any questions you have and translate medical jargon into understandable terms.
- Liaison between healthcare providers: A physio can liaise with your doctor and surgeon, addressing any concerns you may have.
- Equipment fitting: They can teach you how to use and fit any necessary equipment, such as slings or crutches.
Prehabilitation focuses on maximizing your strength and mobility before surgery, all while protecting the injured area. Studies have shown that individuals who undergo prehabilitation experience a smoother and faster recovery after surgery compared to those who don’t.
Ready to begin your recovery journey? Book a prehabilitation appointment today!
Rehabilitation: Physiotherapy After Surgery
Rehabilitation is the traditional role of physiotherapy after surgery. Typically, your surgeon will refer you for rehab following your procedure. The surgeon will establish a specific protocol outlining movement restrictions, activity levels, and recovery timelines. While adhering to these guidelines, your physiotherapist can make adjustments to your rehabilitation program as needed.
Here are some of the primary goals of rehabilitation after surgery:
- Manage swelling and pain: Physiotherapy techniques can help control swelling and pain, promoting a more comfortable recovery.
- Improve movement: Rehabilitation exercises will gradually increase your range of motion, though some limitations may apply depending on your surgeon’s protocol.
- Scar management: Once the incision heals (usually around 10-14 days), scar management begins. This is crucial to prevent scar tissue stiffness and ensure proper joint mobility.
- Muscle strengthening: As your pain and swelling subside, rehabilitation will focus on strengthening the muscles around the surgical area.
- Functional activity restoration: Gradually, your rehab program will incorporate exercises that simulate everyday activities, helping you return to your normal life.
Schedule an appointment today and take charge of your recovery after surgery!
Minimizing Pain and Swelling
During Recovery After Surgery, it’s natural to experience soreness and swelling. The key to managing this is through a combination of compression, elevation (keeping the affected area above your heart), and movement. Movement helps pump the swelling fluid away from the surgical site. We recommend performing small movements frequently throughout the day. Your physiotherapist will also teach you additional techniques to further reduce swelling.
Pain management is crucial for a successful Recovery After Surgery. Don’t hesitate to take all your prescribed pain medication, especially in the early stages. This will help you stay comfortable and facilitate movement, which is essential for healing.
Scar Management: A Key Part of Recovery After Surgery
Scar management is an essential aspect of recovery after surgery. Once the wound heals (usually around 10-14 days), it’s important to address scar tissue. Unmanaged scars can stiffen the joint and restrict movement, causing pulling sensations.
Here at Balgowlah Sports Injury, we offer various techniques and devices to help manage scar tissue, reduce pain and swelling. Learn more about our Specific and Targeted Therapies on our website.
Common Surgeries We See
We see a lot people before and after surgery. The common surgeries we see before and after are:
Hip
- Hip replacements
- Labral repairs
- Femoral acetabular impingement surgeries
- Hamstring repairs
- Fracture repairs
Knee
- Knee replacements
- Meniscus repairs and arthroscopes
- Knee ligament repairs like ACL, MCL and PCL
- Chondromalacia surgery
Foot and Ankle
- Tibialis posterior repairs
- Morton’s neuroma surgery
- Talocrural and subtalar joint prepares
- Lisfranc and bunion procedures
Shoulder
- All types of shoulder replacements
- Shoulder stability procedures like a Laterjet procedure
- Rotator cuff repair
- Shoulder arthroscopes
- Bicep repair
- Pectoralis repair
Spine
- Spinal fusions
- Discectomies
Fracture Repairs
- ORIF’s of bones
- K-wire procedures
Congenital Corrections
- Nuss procedures
- Scoliosis procedures
Ready to Recover Faster and Stronger?
Schedule your prehabilitation or physiotherapy appointment today and take an active role in your recovery journey. Our experienced physiotherapists will guide you through every step, from pre-surgical preparation to scar management, ensuring a smoother and more successful return to your normal life.
Book an appointment and start your journey to a successful recovery after surgery!