Orthopedic surgeries are among the most common pre-planned surgeries carried out in the United States. They are normally carried out in response to age-related deterioration of joints, such as hip and knee replacement, or as a solution for a traumatic injury, like a severe fracture, dislocation, or torn ACL or rotator cuff.

If you’re undergoing orthopedic surgery, physical therapy is recommended to help with the preparation and recovery for the upcoming procedure. Physical therapy plays an important role in ensuring patients achieve the best possible results from their surgery.

Our team has extensive experience in pre and post-surgery care and creates specific plans that are tailored to the specific needs of each individual patient. Here’s what you need to know about pre and post-surgery physical therapy.

Pre-surgery Physical Therapy

Pre-operative physical therapy is designed to prepare the patient for their surgery, by ensuring that their body and mind are in optimal condition to undergo the procedure. In doing so, physical therapists can help ensure that the patient is in a position to achieve the optimal outcome following their surgery.

Some of the elements of care that you can expect from your pre-surgery physical therapy care plan will include:

• Optimizing the mobility of your joints and range of motion. This will help you to regain your strength and mobility more quickly following your surgery.

• Improving your overall well-being and fitness levels. This will reduce the risks associated with your surgery and help improve your healing and recovery time.

• Reduce any pain and inflammation that you are experiencing before your surgery.

• Mentally prepare you for what to expect during and after your surgery.

• Explain to you about the importance of a post-surgery physical therapy care plan and inform you what you can expect from this.

Post-Surgery Physical Therapy

Once your surgery and initial stage of recovery are complete, your surgeon will recommend that you follow a post-operative physical therapy care program. When to start the post-operative physical therapy will depend on several factors, including the type of surgery you have had and how well your body responded to the initial healing stage. Some patients will be recommended to start basic exercises just hours after their surgery, while others may have to wait up to a week.

The aim of post-surgical physical therapy is helping patients achieve the safest and fastest recovery while ensuring that the surgery remains as successful and beneficial as possible. This will include reducing pain and inflammation and restoring joint mobility, flexibility, and strength. This can be done using a variety of techniques including:

• Therapeutic exercises

• Balance, posture and coordination training

• Heat/cold applications

• Electrical stimulation

• Gait training

• Ultrasound therapy

During this time, you may be recommended to have the use of mobility aids, including crutches, canes, or a walker.

Your physical therapy program will also be complemented by exercises that you can carry out by yourself at home, which will further expedite your recovery and enable you to get back to full strength as quickly as possible.

If you would like more information about pre and post-surgery physical therapy, or to schedule an appointment to discuss this with our expert physical therapy team Iin North Massapequa, NY, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.