How to Use Physical Therapy to Recover From Surgery

Using physical therapy to aid in the recovery of surgery can decrease pain and increase healing time. In fact, patients using physical therapy in cases of postoperative knee surgery have often reduced their healing time to 6 or 8 weeks. Follow these steps to find out how physical therapy plays a vital and important role in rehabilitation.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

Understand Physical Therapy

1. Know that physical therapy is a complete program following an injury or surgery to a joint--whether it's muscle, ligament or tendon repair. This program involves exercises, resistance techniques, ice or warmth and occasionally the use of supplements.

2. Use physical therapy to improve the blood flow and flexibility to the affected area. Research has proven that the increased blood flow contributes to improved post-surgery healing.

3. Continue with physical therapy to strengthen the repaired muscle or joint. Focus on conditioning the area post surgery to increase strength and mobility.

Recover From a Variety of Surgeries with Physical Therapy

4. Focus on the primary goal of physical therapy following arthroscopic shoulder surgery, which is initially to improve flexibility.

5. Use stretching exercises to not only recover the flexibility of the affected knee joint following arthroscopic knee surgery, but also to improve the unaffected knee joint for increased stability.

6. Concentrate on adding resistance to the exercises to increase muscle strength through physical therapy.

Find Supplemental Pain Relief as You Recover from Surgery

7. Utilize ice, wraps and braces throughout the physical therapy program to help control the swelling and pain following surgery.

8. Ask your doctor about prescription medication if you find the pain intolerable. Immediately after surgery you may find this to be a good short term solution for effective pain management.

9. Consider the use of acupuncture as an alternative to chemical pain relief. Acupuncture has been effective in Western medicine as a option for pain relief.

10. Go to the "American Physical Therapy Association" Web site to find more information on surgery recovery (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• You should contact your physician with concerns about your health, treatment or care, to help set realistic expectations and goals.
• Discontinue treatment if you feel increased pain during physical therapy to avoid damage to recovering injuries.
• Don't treat medical emergencies with physical therapy techniques. Seek help at an emergency room for vomiting, dizziness or shortness of breath.

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