Surgical rehabilitation often takes two forms, in order to maximize your recovery and help you to achieve your goals.
Many people know that specific exercise and treatment of pain after surgery is commonplace and helpful to your recovery. Rehabilitation after surgery, or post-operatively, often takes the form of:
This can help decrease the risk of post-operative stiffness, swelling, pain and restore strength, mobility and function. Post-operative physiotherapy occurs through consultation with your physiotherapist, in direct one-on-one sessions and development of a tailored home program that is specific to your needs.
However, one phase of surgical rehabilitation that is gaining acceptance occurs long before surgery and is often termed “Prehab.”
Prehab involves physiotherapy assessment and development of strengthening, balance and conditioning activities tailored around your injury and the surgery you are preparing for. A large focus of prehab is around education and helping you understand the surgery that you are preparing for, what is normal to expect from your physical function after, and what you can do immediately to help you recover. It also focuses on function around day-to-day tasks (i.e. stairs, bed mobility, walking) afterwards, including using supportive devices, such as crutches or walker. It is possible, and encouraged, to involve your family members with your prehab to assist you further. Patients that undergo prehab often report reduced anxiety or stress prior to surgery and an increased understanding of what to expect.
Prehab with your physiotherapist is a partnership, with you at the centre. Your prehab, and post-operative therapy is individualized and formed around you and your goals.
Common surgeries that research shows that prehab can help with include:
Some general guidelines to follow with prehab:
For more questions about prehab physiotherapy, or post-operative therapy, please contact us and speak to one of our therapists.
Many people know that specific exercise and treatment of pain after surgery is commonplace and helpful to your recovery. Rehabilitation after surgery, or post-operatively, often takes the form of:
- specific, one-on-one strengthening
- range of motion exercises
- cardiovascular training
- pain control methods
- balance or coordination training
This can help decrease the risk of post-operative stiffness, swelling, pain and restore strength, mobility and function. Post-operative physiotherapy occurs through consultation with your physiotherapist, in direct one-on-one sessions and development of a tailored home program that is specific to your needs.
However, one phase of surgical rehabilitation that is gaining acceptance occurs long before surgery and is often termed “Prehab.”
Prehab involves physiotherapy assessment and development of strengthening, balance and conditioning activities tailored around your injury and the surgery you are preparing for. A large focus of prehab is around education and helping you understand the surgery that you are preparing for, what is normal to expect from your physical function after, and what you can do immediately to help you recover. It also focuses on function around day-to-day tasks (i.e. stairs, bed mobility, walking) afterwards, including using supportive devices, such as crutches or walker. It is possible, and encouraged, to involve your family members with your prehab to assist you further. Patients that undergo prehab often report reduced anxiety or stress prior to surgery and an increased understanding of what to expect.
Prehab with your physiotherapist is a partnership, with you at the centre. Your prehab, and post-operative therapy is individualized and formed around you and your goals.
Common surgeries that research shows that prehab can help with include:
- Spine (i.e. fusions, discectomies)
- Shoulder (i.e. rotator cuff repair, labral repair, total shoulder replacement)
- Knee (i.e. ACL repairs, meniscus surgery, total knee replacement)
- Hip (i.e. labral repair, total hip replacement)
- Hand (i.e. carpal tunnel release)
Some general guidelines to follow with prehab:
- Start the program 6-8 weeks before surgery so that you body can strengthen in advance of the surgery
- Start gradually to avoid aggravating the issue that you are having surgery for
- Maximize other areas of your fitness that do not relate directly to the surgery so that you have a greater physical reserve to draw from afterwards
- Do not overlook activities that encourage relaxation, breathing, stress management or mindfulness
For more questions about prehab physiotherapy, or post-operative therapy, please contact us and speak to one of our therapists.