Physiotherapy before and after surgery is critical for improving rehabilitation time and improving individuals’ quality of life afterwards. If you have surgery planned or have recently been discharged from the hospital, contact our clinic to discuss how we can help you!
Benefits of Physiotherapy before and after Surgery
Are you preparing for a planned surgery? Have you just been discharged from the hospital and feeling weaker than when you were admitted? Physiotherapy could be the most crucial addition to aid your recovery.
Before surgery (pre-op), physiotherapy aims to prepare your body for surgery and recovery. Research has shown that completion of physiotherapy and pre-operative exercise can reduce the amount of time spent in hospital (1)(2). Any surgery comes with an element of risk, as any medical professional will inform you. Pre-operative physiotherapy can help you ask the right questions to your surgeon and promote a positive mindset,
Pre-operative physiotherapy is beneficial for a range of surgeries, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Hip Replacement Surgery (3)
- Knee Replacement Surgery (3)
- Cardiac surgery (1)(2)
- Abdominal Surgery (1) (2)
- Cancer-resection surgery (1)(2)
Our physiotherapists can assess your strength and flexibility, identifying areas that can be improved through a personal tailored program that best equips your body for surgery. Aspects of the program will include
- Improving muscle strength
- Increasing joint mobility
- Education about exercises and rehab after surgery
Just as physiotherapy can help before surgery, the recovery phase afterwards is just as important. A personal physiotherapy assessment and tailored program can help you return swiftly to the activities, hobbies and daily life you were enjoying before. The main goals of a post-operative physiotherapy program will be as follows:
- Promotion of healing through enhancing circulation
- Prevention of blood clots and complications
- Management and reduction of pain and swelling
- Monitoring of joint range and muscle strength
- Restoring optimal moving patterns for your specific needs.
- Advice and support during the recovery phase
The benefits of post-operative physiotherapy can be seen across the varying range of surgeries individuals have done. From improving spinal mobility post-spinal surgery (4) to reduce pain and dysfunction after hip and knee surgeries (3)
As you progress with your recovery after surgery, our physiotherapists can assist you with specific plans to improve your mobility and strength. Alongside this, our exercise physiologists can elevate your rehab through strength and conditioning. Our physiotherapists and exercise physiologists work closely together, allowing you to focus on your long-term goals for maximal recovery and a return to the life you deserve!
If you are preparing for surgery or planning your rehabilitation after leaving the hospital, contact us at PROHEALTH PHYSIO & FITNESS (EP) and allow us to aid you in returning to the best version of yourself!
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References
- Arthur, HM, Daniels, C et al. Effect of a preoperative intervention on preoperative and postoperative outcomes in low-risk patients awaiting elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery. A randomized, controlled trial. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10929164%3Fdopt%3DAbstract Ann Intern Med.] 2000 Aug 15;133(4):253-6
- Doherty, AF, West, M, Jack, S and Grocott, MPW. Preoperative aerobic exercise training in elective intra-cavity surgery: a systematic review Br J Anaesth (2013) 110 (5): 679-689
- Moyer R, Ikert K, Long K, Marsh J. [null The Value of Preoperative Exercise and Education for Patients Undergoing Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2017.] JBJS Rev. Dec; Vol. 5 (12), pp. e2.
- McGregor, AH et al. Cochrane Review: Rehabilitation following surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.
- Joint replacement (primary): hip, knee and shoulder, NICE Guideline, No. 157 , National Guideline Centre (UK), London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2020 Jun. ISBN-13: 978-1-4731-3722-6