Orthopaedic Surgery + Physiotherapy = Better Rehabilitation

The biggest impact of orthopaedic surgery is reduced mobility. It is why doctors keep surgery as the final frontier and then too only recommend it if it improves the quality of the patient’s life. Thankfully, with advancements in science, the recovery period after orthopaedic surgery has reduced and made the operation itself more efficient.

That said, the recovery of each patient varies based on:

• The kind of surgery
• The patient’s general health
• The age of the patient.

Based on these three factors, physiotherapy is recommended to hasten the recovery and bring back mobility in the person. Let’s discover why physical therapy is essential after surgery.

How Does Physiotherapy Help After An Orthopaedic Surgery?

The primary reason physical therapy is always prescribed after surgery is to bring back mobility in the area that was affected. The second most important reason is pain management. Physiotherapy lessens the pain a person feels after orthopaedic surgery. Three more ways of how physical therapy help are:

• The movement ensures that blood clots do not form in the affected area.
• The trauma of the surgery weakens tissues. Physiotherapy strengthens both tissues and muscles.
• It gives the patient a sense of independence and makes them more confident.

Also Read: Lower Back Pain? Here’s What You Can Do!

After Which Orthopaedic Surgeries is Physiotherapy Needed?

Physical therapy after orthopaedic surgery is almost always needed because it restores not only the strength of the patient but also the motion. If you have had any of the following surgeries, your doctor will recommend physiotherapy:

• Spinal surgery
• Rotator cuff repairs
• Whole shoulder replacements
• Entire joint replacements of the hip or knee
• Reconstruction of the ankle, elbow or knee
• Laminectomies – removing the lamina, the back part of a vertebra
• Meniscectomies – removal of all or part of a torn meniscus, a typical knee joint.

Irrespective of whether the surgery was major, open or minimally invasive, a physiotherapist is mandatory. Without them and a team of other experts, getting back on your feet after orthopaedic surgery is near to impossible.

What Does Physiotherapy Include?

Every surgery impacts a different part of the body and hence different mobility. As a result, the physiotherapy and exercise recommended for each varies. In most rehab centres, a mix of regimes is used:

• Exercises to strengthen the body.
• Exercises to enhance mobility of the body.
• Laser treatment and electric stimulation are also given.

Pain medication is also prescribed in a regulated manner to alleviate very severe pain. Once an orthopaedic surgery is over, your team of doctors will assign you a physiotherapist or recommend you to a rehab centre to help you gain back as much mobility as possible. The physiotherapist will keep an eye on your progress by continually assessing your range of motion. Lastly, they will also help you manage and reduce the pain.