Why Physiotherapy for Post-Surgery Recovery is Crucial?
Physiotherapy after surgery is crucial to bring a patient back on track and enable you to come back to routine pain-free and stronger. It helps patients to restore their strength, flexibility, and mobility. It’s important to understand that post-operative physiotherapy is not a quick fix; it often requires several months of dedicated treatment.
After your surgery, a thorough evaluation by your physiotherapist will help them understand your unique needs and challenges and create a tailored plan for you.
What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy treatment aims at improving physical movement, addresses the illnesses or injuries that limit a person’s ability to move, and enables the patients to perform functional activities in their daily lives.
Why should you choose physiotherapy for post-surgery recovery?
- Improved mobility
Exercising after the surgery is important as it is the key to restoring your motion and movement in the operated area. Physiotherapy exercises help prevent stiffness and contractures, thus giving you the freedom to be on your own again.
- Pain management
Post surgery you may experience pain and it stays for some time until complete recovery is made. Physiotherapists use techniques to alleviate your pain with targeted exercises and other cold or heat therapies as needed.
- Muscle strengthening:
Post operative physiotherapy treatment focuses on specific strengthening exercises that aim to rebuild the muscle strength and function around the operated part.
- Balance and coordination improvement:
Physiotherapy for post surgery addresses any imbalances or coordination issues caused by surgery. With dedicated exercises for the affected area, it can work wonders and shorten the recovery period.
- Reduces development of secondary issues
Physiotherapy can prevent the formation of blood clots, stiffness, contracture, and other complications that can occur after surgery. A physiotherapist’s customized routines according to your condition, can help lower the danger of blood clots.
Common injuries that require physiotherapy treatment
Sports Injuries
Sports injuries are quite common and can happen to people of all age groups and in both contact and non-contact sports. They range from mild sprains to ACL surgeries.
- Sprained ankles: This affects the ligaments in the ankle, often resulting from twisting or turning suddenly.
- Tennis elbow: This is seen commonly due to overuse, causing pain in the elbow and forearm.
- Rotator cuff injuries: In this, the damage occurs in the muscles and tendons around the shoulder, commonly seen in throwing sports.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and often happen from everyday activities or sports. The cause can lie in sudden trauma, repetitive movements, or overuse. Common examples include:
- Strains: When muscles or tendons are overstretched or torn.
- Tendinitis: Inflammation of the tendons, often caused by repetitive movements, sudden pressure or incorrect exercises.
- Bursitis: Inflammation in the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joints occurring due to strain and sometimes also because of increased body weight.
For soft tissue injuries, physical therapy focuses on reducing pain, increasing flexibility, increasing range of motion, and rebuilding strength. Physiotherapy for post surgery recovery includes manual therapy, stretching exercises, and strengthening exercises.
Sprains and Tears
The most common example of this is the sprained ankle. Sprains occur when ligaments are overstretched or torn due to sudden twisting or jarring force. While tears on the other hand occur due to partial or complete rupture of tendons, muscles, or ligaments due to overstretching.
Generally, physiotherapy treatment can include joint mobilization, therapeutic exercises, and functional training to help you get back to your normal activities.
Advantages of post operative physiotherapy treatment
Post operative physiotherapy treatment plays a vital role in the patient’s life facilitating their recovery and minimizing the discomfort.
Faster Recovery Time
With post operative physiotherapy your recovery time can be reduced significantly. The exercises after the surgery help in enhanced blood flow, reduced inflammation, and strong muscles. According to research in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, patients who underwent physiotherapy after having a knee replacement recovered much quicker than those who did not.
Reduced Risk of Complications and Re-Injury
Physiotherapy reduces the risk of complications and re-injury. Post-surgery, it is important to get back to an active lifestyle. To do that, dedicated exercises are important to reduce muscle weakness, which increases the possibility of falls and other accidents.
Post operative physiotherapy treatment can help strengthen muscles, improve the patient’s balance and coordination, and lower the likelihood of accidents and re-injury.
Improved Functional Ability and Quality of Life
The functional capacity of a patient, as well as their quality of life, can both be considerably enhanced by physiotherapy. Post surgery physiotherapy treatment can improve the functional capacity of a patient and get them back on their feet stronger. Surgeries hamper the daily activities of the patient but post operative physiotherapy treatment can give them independence and the ability to re-engage in their daily routine.
Expert Physiotherapy Treatment at MJ Naidu Hospital
With a legacy of 38 years of excellence, MJ Naidu Hospital combines traditional physiotherapy techniques with modern innovations and ensures every patient receives personalized care. Whether you are recovering from soft tissue injuries, sprains, tears, or sports-related issues, MJ Naidu Hospital’s skilled physiotherapists are there to guide you through comprehensive physiotherapy for the post surgery process.