Having surgery? Consider Pre-Surgery PT

Often, there is a period of waiting involved prior to any surgery. This time is valuable, and it can be utilized to prepare the body prior to surgery and facilitate a better outcome after the surgery. Essentially, the stronger a person is going into surgery, the better the chances of an easier and faster recovery after the surgery.

Traditionally, a physical therapist helps with post-surgical rehabilitation, but you may be surprised to learn that the therapist can also be your biggest ally during the ‘pre-hab’ process.

Improving health and fitness, and being in optimal physical health can go a long way towards the facilitation of post-operative recovery. These are some simple guidelines to follow with a pre-surgical rehabilitation program:

• Start the program at least six weeks before the surgery date to gain the most benefit.
• Start slowly. This is not the time to aggravate an existing issue or create a new one.
• If you are already physically fit, consider increasing your intensity, frequency, or duration as long as it doesn’t interfere with your current injury.
• Yoga is an excellent way to prepare both the mind and body for surgery. The combination of relaxation and soothing movements can be beneficial before and after surgery.

A consultation with your physical therapist will involve an evaluation to determine:

• Muscle and joint strength
• Ability to move and perform day-to-day-day tasks (stair climbing, getting in and out of bed)
• Amount of assistance needed from friends and family members

By working with a physical therapist prior to surgery and creating a pre-surgery rehabilitation plan, you will create a strong foundation for rapid recovery. Similar to the post-surgical collaboration, you can expect your physical therapist to work closely with your doctors to get you on the road to recovery even before you have surgery.