3 Benefits of Pre-Operative Physical Therapy
How choosing rehabilitation before physical therapy can change your outcome
Do you have surgery scheduled? If so, you probably have a long list of things you need to do and prepare for before your operation. But one crucial thing to add to that list is scheduling a consultation with a physical therapist.
Many people think that physical therapy is only needed after their surgery. While therapy is undoubted “a given” after most operations, it should also be considered as much before operations. Pre-operative physical therapy, sometimes called “prehabilitation,” is hugely beneficial in more ways than one.
For many people in the weeks following their surgery, pain and limited mobility can be a big concern. Pain can restrict their work, decrease their ability to handle post-operative physical therapy, disrupt their sleep, and even make it difficult for them to manage their environment safely. Limited mobility causes stress as the patient relies on family and friends to help with daily life. It can also put a lot of pressure on them to heal faster so they can get back to their normal routines, which does nothing but delay wound healing and cause psychological stress.
We’d certainly like to see more research studies investigating how pre-operative physical therapy helps control and reduce post-operative pain, including studies with larger sample sizes to capture the effects. But in the meantime, we’re happy to see that physical therapy services designed to prepare a patient for the demands of surgery help many of our patients experience less discomfort postoperatively, feel less reliant on pain-relieving drugs, and become empowered to execute a post-op home program effectively.
Read to learn the top three reasons to consult with a physical therapist before heading to the operating room. Be sure to call us today to schedule an appointment before your surgical procedure.
1. Preoperative PT can reduce the amount of care you’ll need after your operation.
Research shows that “prehabbing” for your surgery with a physical therapist before undergoing a hip or knee replacement can significantly reduce the amount of professional care you’ll need postoperatively.
For example, the American Physical Therapy Association references a 2014 study from the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery which showed that just one or two sessions of preoperative physical therapy reduced the use of post-acute care services by nearly 30%.
As you can imagine, reducing the amount of professional postoperative care you need saves you both time and money. In the above-mentioned study, the researchers estimated that preoperative PT saved patients an average of $1,000.
2. Physical therapy can make you strong and healthy in preparation for your surgery.
Going into surgery as strongly as possible also reduces the risk of post-op complications such as muscle atrophy and joint stiffness. Perhaps the main underlying benefit of prehab with a PT is that it can effectively “tune up” your body so that you go into your procedure with greater strength, endurance, and stamina.
Plus, a pre-operative physical therapy session or two can also give you a chance to practice the post-operative exercises you’ll be expected to do during your rehabilitation, learn how to move with any new weight-bearing precautions or mobility restrictions you’ll have after surgery, and overall make you a better educated and more well-informed patient. For example, we teach our patients exercises that will strengthen specific muscles and improve mobility of the joints that may be affected by the operation, which may help these areas recover faster.
3. Physical Therapy can help you stay safe at home
Part of the prehab work with a physical therapist may involve recommendations for setting up a “recovery zone” in your home.
For example, if your bedroom is on the second floor of your home, you might want to set up a bedroom or resting area on the first floor to avoid using the stairs frequently after surgery.
Kitchen items that you might need to reach should be placed on lower shelves ahead of time, within easy reach. Physical therapy will be necessary for your recovery, but so will therapeutic rest. Have an area of your home prepared where you can comfortably sit, rest, and relax.
In addition to recommendations for home set-up, your physical therapist can teach you the proper use of assistive devices such as canes, crutches, and walkers to help you feel confident and safe moving around in your environment after surgery. Depending on the type of operation that you have undergone or are planning to undergo, a physical therapist can teach you the proper strategies for getting in and out of bed, getting dressed, as well as grooming and bathing.
All around, preoperative therapy spells out a faster recovery and better surgical results!
See what pre-operative physical therapy can do for you!
After any surgery, PT can help you regain your function once again. It’s essential to get moving again, to whatever degree is considered safe and beneficial, as soon as possible after your procedure. Post-surgical PT offers a controlled environment for a swifter, less complicated recuperation. Aside from the top 3 main benefits, prehab can also:
- Help muscles get reactivated and regain their strength
- Ensure that your joints regain their preoperative flexibility and range of motion
- Ease your post-operative discomfort naturally by boosting blood flow and encouraging fluid drainage
- Re-train you to use a part of your body that was unusable before the surgery
- Discourage the development of unwanted scar tissue
- Help you regain your balance after an extended period off of your feet
Go into Surgery stronger – schedule today
Are you preparing for surgery? To maximize your outcomes, accelerate your recovery, and keep your surgery as cost-effective as possible, contact our physical therapy clinic today to schedule a preoperative appointment with a physical therapist.