Physical Therapy After Surgery Helps You to Heal Faster

Rehabilitation after surgery is critical in helping patients improve their range of motion, increase strength and function, and improve their quality of life. Our physical therapists are trained to help manage the pain, which is an essential first step in promoting a healthy and healing environment for you to recover following surgery. Some ways a Physical Therapist can help you control your pain may include:

• Moist heat and cold therapy
• Electrotherapy
• Appropriate soft tissue massage
• Proper body positioning
• Gentle joint mobilizations and movements

It’s proven that physical therapy is an integral part of the healing process. Doing stretches and strengthening exercises helps you regain balance, control, and range of motion in the area where your surgery was performed. Our licensed physical therapists will work with you to develop a detailed therapy program which may include:  

Enhanced Mobility and Flexibility After Surgery

To improve flexibility and mobility, your physical therapist will focus on range-of-motion moves, stretching and strengthening exercises, and stabilizing muscles to help you regain flexibility and movement. If you’re unsure if you have a healthy level of mobility, consider talking to one of our licensed physical therapists, who can assess how you move. 

Optimal Circulation In The Recovery Process

Good circulation is integral to the recovery process – it delivers oxygen and nutrients vital for healing, especially in the hours and days after surgery. Depending on your procedure, your physical therapist will show you exercises promoting circulation and flexibility.

Strengthen Surrounding Muscles

After surgery, you can expect that your muscles will be weak. When muscles weaken from pain or disuse, other muscles overpower the weaker ones. This leads to an imbalance where the weaker muscles become more prolonged, and the stronger muscles become shorter. Your recovery will be faster as you strengthen the surrounding muscles, learn compensatory strategies and begin reusing the limb or joint naturally. A physical therapist will help advise you on how and when to start strengthening exercises for these areas. 

Pain Reduction After Surgery Without Medication

Our physical therapists will also address pain without medication through massage, manual therapy, gentle stretches, dry needling, aquatic therapy, ice/heat therapy, and other techniques.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, more than 130 people in the United States die every day after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health and social and economic welfare.

Since opioids mask the pain without treating its underlying cause, many people choose to forgo pain meds altogether in favor of a more natural treatment. Fortunately, physical therapy not only helps relieve pain but also addresses what is causing it in the first place.

Exercise After Surgery

Exercise is vital to getting better after surgery. It is the key to returning to activities safely, eliminating fatigue, promoting proper movement strategies, enhancing strength, and avoiding re-injury. Your physical therapist will develop a customized exercise program based on the type of surgery you had. Patients will typically learn the exercises at the physical therapy office and then do them on their own as a home exercise program or at the gym.

Since many of our FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers are located within many recreational centers around the Denver metro area, we can work with you to find the best exercise program that will benefit you using the gym equipment or pools.

Physical therapy is a vital part of recovery after surgery. It can help you heal faster, improve your flexibility and range of motion, minimize scar tissue development, and also help you manage pain levels without excessive prescription narcotics. If you need help with your recovery, Contact Us to find out how physical therapy can help you return to an active lifestyle.