Pre/Post Surgical Patients

Prepare for Your Surgery with Pre-surgical Rehab Treatments

Do you have a surgical operation planned in the near future? It is natural to be a little worried about how well the surgery will go or how long your recovery period may be. Many people participate in physical therapy treatments after surgery as part of their recovery plan, which is undeniably helpful for the healing process. However, there are also several benefits to completing a pre-surgical rehabilitation plan.

How does pre-surgical rehabilitation work?

Pre-surgical rehabilitation has been known to provide a number of benefits for surgical patients. By consulting with one of our Naperville and Burr Ridge, IL physical therapists, you can find out what treatment plan will be best for you to achieve optimum results.

When you are as strong, flexible, and healthy as possible, you are able to regain normal function much quicker, following surgery. Starting a pre-hab program also means you’ll be able to establish a positive training routine that you will already be accustomed to before your surgery, and that you can take into your recovery for a better outcome.

The 6 main benefits of pre-hab

There are six key aspects to pre-surgical rehabilitation and how it can help you be successful:

1. Gives the possibility of avoiding surgery

If your pre-hab treatments work well in improving your pain and overall condition, it may be possible to avoid surgery altogether. While it is not always the case, some patients found that their pre-hab treatments did wonders, and were sufficient enough in reducing their pain that they canceled their procedure. If your condition begins to improve considerably after starting physical therapy, you’ll want to consult with your physician regarding future treatment options and the possibility of avoiding surgery.

2. Shortens recovery

By completing a pre-hab program before your surgery, your recovery should go much smoother than it would without physical therapy treatments. Having strong and toned muscles before surgery helps you get back to your regular routine much quicker.

3. Increases stamina

Whatever surgery you may need, there will always be a loss of strength following the procedure. However, pre-hab can help in reducing how much strength is lost by increasing your stamina before the operation. Engaging in a physical routine before surgery will improve your overall stamina and make the surgery much easier.

4. Reduces complications

Physical therapy treatments, especially those incorporating exercise programs, can help increase your strength and endurance. As a result, this can improve your immunity, meaning that the chance of infection after surgery will be much less likely.

5. Improves outcomes

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) states that pre-hab can improve the overall outcomes of surgery, and can even help in saving money if everything goes smoothly. The stronger you are before the surgery, the more likely the surgery will be successful.

6. Reduces pain

No matter what your surgery may be for, our physical therapist can help reduce your pain through pre-hab. This can be done through a variety of methods, including exercise, massage, or ice and heat therapies.

How will pre-hab work for me?

Pre-hab helps improve strength and promote pain relief before surgery, as it prepares your body for the procedure. It can also help you prepare mentally, by encouraging an overall sense of well-being. Pre-hab helps to improve your range of motion and patterns of movement with exercises that you can perform before and after your surgery, in order to speed up your recovery time.

Surgery can take a traumatic toll on your body; therefore, it is typically only performed when there are no other options available. According to the National Institutes of Health, participating in exercise therapies prior to surgery can exceptionally improve your post-operative outcomes and reduce your recovery time.

In general, physical therapy will assist you in improving your physical health and promoting general wellness.

Pre-hab – defined

It is no secret that the preparation for surgery can leave you feeling anxious, but a pre-hab program may be able to put your mind at ease. Studies have shown that beginning physical therapy a month or so before surgery can significantly speed up your recovery time.

Pre-surgical rehabilitation, also referred to as pre-hab, is becoming an increasingly recommended practice by surgeons, as it can improve the outcomes for their patients. A pre-surgical rehabilitation plan will help you get physically and mentally prepared for your upcoming procedure.

Prepare for your surgery with pre-hab

If you are planning on having surgery, contact Activa Physical Therapy  today to speak with one of our qualified team members. Our Naperville and Burr Ridge, IL physical therapy practice is dedicated to providing you with the best treatment options available.

For the best results, it’s important to get started as soon as possible. Schedule your appointment today at Naperville & Burr Ridge, IL to prepare for an easier procedure and recovery period.

Find Fast Relief from Your Surgical Procedure with Post-Surgical Rehab

Set Yourself up for a Smooth Recovery

Do you have a surgery coming up that you’ve been anxious about? It is normal to be a bit nervous when planning for surgery, wondering how quickly you’ll be able to get back to doing all the things you love. Fortunately, knowing you have a post-surgical rehab plan set beforehand can help ease some of your stress.

Are you looking to recover from your surgery as quickly as possible? Of course, you are! Let Activa Physical Therapy help! Contact us today for an appointment with one of our dedicated Naperville and Burr Ridge, IL physical therapists. They will create a personalized treatment plan for your specific needs so you can get back to your life faster!

How will a post-surgical treatment plan help me?

While your physician may recommend pain management drugs, physical therapy has been known to relieve pain without the need for them. Pain-killing drugs mask the pain while physical therapy resolves the issue where the pain is originating. This is achieved with specialized methods, techniques, and modalities, such as ultrasound, joint mobilizations, laser therapy, electrical stimulation, and home exercise programs.

Whatever you may need surgery for, Activa Physical Therapy can help you get to your optimum levels of function afterward. Our Naperville and Burr Ridge, IL physical therapists will create a treatment plan that will include targeted stretches and exercises to help you recover and get back to your normal daily life.

We are dedicated to making sure you are living a healthy life, even after your post-surgical rehab treatments are over. Because of this, part of your treatment plan will also include education on any lifestyle and/or nutritional changes you can make in order to optimize your long-term health, avoid injuring yourself and avoid the need for additional surgeries in the future.

The days and weeks following a surgical procedure may result in physical limitations. Our physical therapist can advise you on ways to accommodate these limitations, such as how to go up and down the stairs, put on clothes, or get in and out of a car. This can be done with the assistance of adaptive tools to compensate for reduced movement. By making these adjustments, you will be able to move around comfortably while also working to restore the normal range of movement in your body.

What are the biggest benefits of post-surgical rehab?

Both pre- and post-surgical rehab are essential elements of successful surgical outcomes. Any type of surgery can be considered a form of trauma and can affect the body differently. Even minor and uncomplicated surgical procedures can have a major impact on your health. Because of this, post-surgical rehab with a Naperville and Burr Ridge, IL physical therapist is especially important, in order to make sure everything goes smoothly after your operation is done.

Individualized post-surgical rehab at Activa Physical Therapy not only minimizes your pain and accelerates your rate of healing, but it can also reduce the chances of postoperative complications, including infections, bleeding, blood clots, muscle weakness, scar tissue, decreased function, and other factors that can negatively impact your long-term health.

Another critical reason for selecting post-surgical physical therapy is its ability to help you reduce or completely avoid prescription painkillers, including opioids. An opioid epidemic is currently gripping the country and impacting every socioeconomic class. According to the CDC, an estimated 115 people every day die from an opioid overdose, and upwards of 29% of people, prescribed opioids will end up misusing these dangerous drugs.

For this reason, the CDC advises people to choose physical therapy over prescription painkillers whenever possible.

Common causes for surgical intervention

When conservative treatment options for an injury or health condition fail to provide effective relief, many physicians will recommend surgical correction. Some common conditions that may lead to surgery include, but are not limited to:

• Heart surgery – ablations, stent placements, cardiac pacemakers, etc
• ACL, MCL, and/or meniscus repairs
• Rotator cuff tears
• Full or partial knee replacements
• Total hip replacements

The impact of these surgeries on your body should not be understated. Most surgeries incur at least some degree of pain, inflammation, mobility limitations, and swelling. To complicate matters, you likely were already experiencing pain and dysfunction prior to your operation!

To accommodate healing tissues and/or to avoid recurring dysfunction, it is likely that you will have to learn how to do certain things all over again, like walking and getting dressed. Our Naperville and Burr Ridge, IL physical therapists can teach you how to perform tasks safely while following critical post-operative guidelines.

These guidelines are often outlined by your surgeon and could include safe positions for your hip, knee, sternal, spine, non-weight bearing guidelines, etc.

Find relief today

If you are planning on having a surgical operation in the near future, don’t wait to set up your post-surgical rehab plan. Do it today with Activa Physical Therapy at Naperville & Burr Ridge, IL.

We’ll provide you with everything you need to get back to your life as quickly and easily as possible!