Why Pre-Operative Physical Therapy is Important
on Tuesday, January 23, 2018
For folks anticipating a surgery or recovering from a recent surgery, pre- and post-operative physical therapy can be enormously beneficial. In the event that an individual is preparing for a surgery, pre-operative physical therapy can result in faster healing, easier recovery, and in some cases a cancellation of the previously required surgery.
Some of us are familiar with a comprehensive post-operative rehabilitation program designed to promote healing, reduce pain and swelling, restore joint mobility, flexibility, and strength. However, many of us are not aware of the benefits of a structured pre-operative or “pre-habilitation” program.
This is a program designed by your physical therapist to help you prior to surgery so that you can have a great outcome after surgery. The goals of a pre-habilitation program:
- Mentally prepare for surgery
- Reduce pain and inflammation
- Restore range of motion
- Improve muscular control of the injured joint
- Normalize movement patterns prior to your surgery
- Improve overall well-being and fitness
- Gain a good understanding of the exercises that you will perform immediately after surgery
In those cases involving people who are heading for surgery, a physical therapy pre-habilitation program can help optimize the function of the affected areas prior to the scheduled operation. Pre-operative physical therapy can ensure a more comfortable and steadier recovery from surgery, whether the operation is a total joint replacement, ligament or tendon reconstruction, fracture fixation, or spinal surgery.
There are many conditions in which surgery is recommended, and a dedicated pre-habilitation program has been shown to significantly postpone or even prevent an anticipated surgery. Physical therapy can help eliminate the mechanical and/or inflammatory component necessitating surgery.
Whether you’re awaiting surgery for muscle, tendon or ligament sprain, tear, or repair, a bone fracture with or without fixation, a labral injury, tear, debridement, a meniscus injury, tear, meniscectomy, or repair, osteoarthritis with or without joint replacement, disc herniation with or without microdiscectomy/laminectomy/fusion, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, or Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, pre-operative physical therapy can help.
Renew Physical Therapy is proud to serve Portland-area residents awaiting surgery. Renew Physical Therapy employs a range of treatments; our aim is to restore our patients to pain-free function.
If you or a loved one is anicipating surgery, contact Renew Physical Therapy today for an evaluation.
Learn more about our Pre-Operative physical therapy.
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