Pre-Surgical & Post-Operative Physical Therapy Scottsdale

Surgery is a major intervention designed to increase your function and reduce your pain. Fortunately, with specific preparation and rehabilitation, you can drastically increase your chances of a positive outcome. Pre-Surgical Physical Therapy before your operation and Post-Operative Rehabilitation afterwards help you regain your mobility and lifestyle.

Pre-Surgical Physical Therapy Scottsdale

Pre-surgery physical therapy is commonly recommended by orthopedic surgeons. Physical therapy before the operation works well, especially when there’s a ligament tear or a bone injury. Physical therapy is less widely integrated in other areas by surgeons but holds major benefits for abdominal and pelvic surgery.

Pre-surgery physical therapy prepares you physically for a surgical procedure to reduce complications afterward. Surgery is physically intense, so physical therapy is the training you need to handle that better. Just like training for a sport, getting into shape before your surgery improves your performance. People who regularly exercise or have physical therapy treatments before surgery tend to have fewer complications.

Benefits 

Many people think physical therapy is only for after surgery, but PT before surgery at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - South Scottsdale has many benefits. Of course, the benefits compound when you have sessions with your therapist both before and after your operation. 

• Pre-surgery physical therapy helps minimize your post-surgical pain. In the weeks after your surgery, pain can be a big issue. Pain restricts what you can do, decreases your ability to participate actively in post-operative physical therapy, and disrupts your sleep. Pain tends to delay wound healing and cause a lot of stress. Less pain after the operation is a major goal for many pre-surgical physical therapy patients. 
• Pre-surgical physical therapy reduces the care you need after your operation. Studies show that even a couple of physical therapy sessions before surgery could reduce the physical therapy and other care you need afterwards, saving you money. 
• Pre-operative physical therapy gives you practice with the post-operative exercises and new weight-bearing precautions or mobility restrictions. You may find it easier to learn a new exercise program or how to cope with precautions before your operation. 

Pre-Surgical Physical Therapy makes for a faster recovery and better surgical outcomes!

Benefits of Post-Operative Physical Therapy in Scottsdale 

Once you’ve had surgery, you have shot-term and long-term recovery on your mind. You want to help your healing process with the most rapid recovery possible, while avoiding opiod pain medications. And wouldn’t it be nice if you could reduce your pain and increase your mobility, too? 

That’s what physical therapy after surgery is for! 

Physical therapy allows you to recover faster and regain your flexibility and mobility more quickly after surgery. Also, it ensures repairs or replacements during surgery heal properly. Physical therapy at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - Scottsdale helps with pain management to avoid opioid medications.

FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - Scottsdale specializes in post-operative rehabilitation. After your knee or hip replacement surgery, rotator cuff surgery or surgery to repair a torn tendon, the physical therapists at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers in Scottsdale are dedicated to getting you back to doing what you enjoy.

Reduced Pain 

As a recovering patient, you may be worried that physical therapy will hurt, but it is not painful! Manual physical therapy stretches and manipulations, plus tailored exercises, help restore joint and muscle function, which relieves pain.

Pain often comes from inflammation compressing nerves after surgery. Reducing that inflammation will improve flexibility and mobility and promote healing. All of which reduce overall pain levels.

In addition to active and passive movements or exercises during post-surgical physical therapy, cold and heat support the healing in the affected areas. Heat and ice stimulate blood flow and decrease swelling, which reduces pain, too.

Your physical therapist at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - Scottsdale provides guidance, so you’ll know how to apply heat and ice in the right combination and frequency.

Better Balance and Enhanced Flexibility and Mobility

Surgery can often result in limiting the flexibility and mobility of the affected body part. Naturally, your body responds by protecting the area, which reduces the range of motion and causes:

• Muscle Tightness
• Swelling 
• Cramps
• Spasms

This makes it challenging to get around to do ordinary things in everyday life. You may have trouble with reaching, walking, getting into or out of bed, or even getting dressed. The benefits of post-surgical physical therapy include better balance and enhanced flexibility and mobility, making it easier to get back to your regular activities.

Your physical therapist at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - South Scottsdale helps you regain balance, flexibility and mobility through: 

• Strength exercises
• Stretching exercises  
• Myofascial release 
• Hands-on manual manipulation

Physical therapy stretches at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - Scottsdale ensure trouble spots stay mobile and flexible and improves your range of motion.

Improved Circulation

Better circulation to surgical sites speeds up the healing process. Physical therapy improves circulation, so blood can bring the nutrients and oxygen your body needs to heal. Reduced inflammation and a better blood supply help you recover more quickly. 

Your physical therapist at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - South Scottsdale may use any number of techniques to improve your circulation. Many patients receive several different modalities in their customized plan based on their initial comprehensive assessment. 

Massage and electrical stimulation are common methods physical therapists use to improve blood flow.

Electrical stimulation therapy passes an electrical current to the site of the surgery with the altered nerve conduction. Increased blood flow and muscle contractions reduce pain and inflammation for rapid results.

Less Scar Tissue 

It doesn’t take long for soft tissue to contract and scar tissue to form after any injury or surgery. Excessive scarring limits flexibility and movements, reducing function, sometimes for months after a procedure.

When scar tissue is untreated, you’ll find it painful and restrictive. Your physical therapist at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - Scottsdale focuses on internal scarring of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This helps improve overall flexibility and mobility.

Physical therapists use different tissue mobilization techniques to:

• Soften scar tissue
• Promote faster, more complete healing 
• Improve flexibility and mobility 

Therapists often use hands-on manual therapy, massage or ultrasound therapy to achieve the best results in reducing scar tissue.

Lowered Risk of Secondary Issues

Patients who exercise or move after surgery often experience muscle weakness with lower function and an increased risk of secondary issues.

These secondary issues, or post-surgical complications, include blood clots and infections. These complications can be debilitating or even deadly. Post-surgical physical therapy reduces the risk of these secondary issues using tailored treatments, exercises and movement programs. Aside from losing muscle strength, patients may also have reduced heart and lung capacity without physical therapy.

Physical therapy helps you return to your daily activities safely and sooner through rebuilding strength and flexibility. Plus, an individually tailored movement and exercise program helps dissolve any dangerous blood clots forming after the surgery.

A well-structured, customized physical therapy program from FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - Scottsdale is the solution to this problem.

Pre- and Post-Surgical Physical Therapy at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers in Scottsdale

Your physical therapist at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - South Scottsdale begins the process with a comprehensive assessment. They work closely with your surgeon and others on your medical team to support every aspect of your short- and long-term recovery. 

A personalized physical therapy and exercise program is key to a successful surgical recovery.

PT treatments make you stronger to prepare for surgery, and a physical therapy and exercise program speeds up your recovery process.

How Soon After Surgery Should You Start Physical Therapy?

Your doctor or physical therapist will determine the best schedule for your treatments. Starting as soon as possible after your surgery is usually most beneficial since it helps avoid decreased blood flow and weakened atrophied muscles. Studies show starting physical therapy as early as the day of surgery produces better overall results and a quicker recovery.

Why Choose FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers in Scottsdale

Now that you have decided to have pre- and post-surgical physical therapy, it’s time to choose the right physical therapy clinic. 

FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - Scottsdale recommend an initial consultation with a physical therapist before your surgery or as soon as possible if you have already had surgery. 

Then, you’ll have a recovery plan to maximize your outcomes and accelerate your recovery.

Contact FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - Scottsdale today to schedule an assessment appointment with a physical therapist.

Pre-Surgical & Post-Operative Physical Therapy FAQs

What is post-operative therapy?

Post-operative therapy helps you speed healing and get back to your regular level of functioning after surgery. A physical therapist enables you to manage pain, rebuild joint and muscle stability and strength, and generally assist in your recovery.

Why You Need Post-Operative Rehabilitation

Post-surgical rehabilitation helps your body heal more quickly, effectively, efficiently, and completely. Physical therapy supports circulation, reduces the risk of adhesions forming, reduces swelling and pain, and ultimately makes the rehabilitation period more comfortable and shorter. 

How Is A Full Rehabilitation Program Structured?

Full rehabilitation includes interventions that optimize functioning and reduce disability. The goals include controlling pain and swelling, and improving range of motion, flexibility, strength, and balance with a gradual return to full activity.