Life immediately after surgery is not instant bliss. It takes a toll on you and may leave you feeble, immobilized, depressed, and in pain. Yes, everybody's main objective is to recover quickly and get back to their daily activities. But remember, the success of your surgical procedure is linked to what you do during your post-op recovery window.
For this reason, your surgeon will recommend physical therapy (PT). Physiotherapists employ specific exercises, stretching, taping, among other customized activities, to help you heal faster. Sadly, some patients ignore the orthopedic physical therapy recommended by their doctor, slowing down their healing process.
Let's look at four benefits of physiotherapy sessions after surgery.
Full Range of Motion
Range of motion describes how much movement you can make with a part of your body. Arthroscopic knee surgery, for example, can temporarily limit your range of limb movement. But with good physical therapy, you can quickly regain your ability to move. There are three main types of range of motion exercises: passive, active-assistive, and active. They involve a combination of stretching and exercises that target the affected areas to help undo the damage and restore movement.
Restore Muscle Mass
Your muscles waste away after surgery. This is called muscle atrophy. One of the reasons it occurs is because surgery stimulates the release of a major stress hormone known as cortisol. This hormone binds to muscle receptors, causing rapid muscle loss.
Atrophy could also occur when you remain immobile during your recovery period. If your muscles remain inactive, the body eventually breaks them down to conserve energy. To reverse this, your physical therapist will recommend a range of exercises to build up muscles on the recovering leg back. These may include squats, leg raises, and hamstring contractions. By rebuilding the lost muscles, your leg mobility will improve much faster.
Pain Reduction
Some patients dread physical therapy after surgery. They think it will only cause more pain than what they are already experiencing. However, physiotherapy is designed to free up the stiff tissues and return you to peak physical condition. If you're fully dedicated to your therapy sessions, you could even come out stronger than you were before surgery.
Improved Blood Circulation
You're likely going to stay immobile for the better part of the day after surgery. This hinders good blood flow in your body, making it hard for you to heal.
But with physical therapy, blood flow in the body is maximized, giving you a healing boost. Blood carries nutrients and oxygen, helping alleviate inflammation on the surgery site. Proper blood circulation is accomplished by performing exercises that get your blood flowing in a manageable way.
Contact Ocean Chiropractic and Health Center
If you're worried about your post-surgery recovery, allow us to help you. At Ocean Chiropractic and Health Center, patients can expect quality care courtesy of our modern chiropractic techniques. You can visit our offices in Port St Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach, Florida.