Physical Therapy Is a Vital Part of Your Post-Surgery Recovery

Physical Therapy Is a Vital Part of Your Post-Surgery Recovery

It Can Be Invaluable If You Don't Need Surgery

When you’re facing orthopaedic surgery, chances are fairly high that your surgeon will recommend physical therapy. Many patients don’t know what physical therapy entails or why it’s so important, causing them to feel anxious and apprehensive. So, we decided to share some of our most frequently asked questions about PT to help our patients feel more at ease.

Q. Do I really need physical therapy? Won’t everything heal on its own?

A. Physical therapy is an important part of your recovery after surgery. It can help you heal faster, improve your flexibility, help your range of motion and minimize your scar tissues.

Q. Won’t physical therapy cause me more pain?

A. Actually, the opposite is often true. Physical therapy can help alleviate your pain and get you moving again faster.

Q. Can I do this on my own or should I work with a physical therapist?

A. The answer to this question can depend on a number of factors, including the type of surgery you’ve had, your level of physical fitness and your home support network. While some patients can successfully manage PT on their own with some guidance, the bottom line is that there are countless benefits to working with a trained professional when undergoing physical therapy. Once a patient learns and masters the various exercises introduced in PT, it is often possible to continue these exercises at home.

Q. What are some of the benefits?

A. - Full assessment of the severity of your injury and your range of motion.
-  Proper evaluation of your gait, balance and ability to perform common activities.
- Ultrasound to reduce pain, encourage muscle relaxation and accelerate recovery.
- Electrical muscle stimulation to strengthen muscles, if needed.
- Electrical nerve stimulation to ease pain, if needed.
- Therapeutic massage to relax muscles and improve range of motion, if needed.
- A patient-specific program designed to ease pain, increase range of motion, improve strength, heighten flexibility and improve overall function.

Q. What happens if I don’t have physical therapy?

A. Your recovery could take longer and you could experience more pain. Your muscles could atrophy and you may never regain your full range of motion.

Q. Is PT only for post-surgery patients?
A. Whether you have had surgery or not, physical therapists are experts in restoring movement and function. They can help you improve your balance and mobility, relieve your joint pain, restore function and prevent injury. Physical therapy can also be an important pre-surgery tool. But did you know that physical therapy can sometimes help you avoid surgery completely? It’s true! Even if you’re not facing surgery, PT can help you manage chronic pain and prove beneficial when recovering from an injury that does not require surgery.

Another lesser-known benefit of PT is that it can help patients avoid injury altogether. A physical therapist can identify areas of weakness and poor mobility that can leave someone at greater risk of injury. Once those risks are identified, a physical therapist can create a therapeutic plan to target those areas in an effort to reduce the odds of injury.

Schedule Your Appointment Today!

The physical therapists at Kayal Orthopaedic Center are highly trained, extremely knowledgeable and committed to helping patients live their best lives. We use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to get you moving and active again. Our physical therapy services are available in several convenient locations. To schedule your appointment, call us at 844.777.0910 or contact us through our website.