Pre-Surgical Rehab
Physiotherapy For Pre-Surgical Rehab
Your rehab doesn’t have to wait until after your surgery, in many cases it is beneficial to start working on strengthening before you have your operation.
Pre-surgical rehabilitation, or “prehab,” is a proactive approach to prepare your body for surgery. It focuses on improving strength, mobility, and overall physical function to ensure a smoother recovery process. Whether you’re scheduled for a joint replacement, ligament repair, or another procedure, pre-surgical rehab can help optimize your outcomes, reduce complications, and shorten recovery time.
How Physiotherapy Can Help
Pre-surgical rehabilitation helps prepare your body for surgery, improving outcomes and recovery time. Physiotherapists focus on:
- Evaluation of Current Function: Assessing strength, mobility, and movement patterns to identify areas for improvement.
- Strengthening Exercises: Building the muscles that will support the surgical site, such as strengthening the quadriceps before a knee replacement or the rotator cuff before shoulder surgery.
- Improving Range of Motion: Stretching and mobility exercises to prepare the joint or area for surgery, leading to better post-surgical recovery.
- Balance and Coordination Training: Reducing the risk of falls or further injury before and after surgery.
- Education and Preparation: Teaching safe movement techniques, post-surgical exercises, and the proper use of assistive devices.
- Overall Fitness Preparation: Cardiovascular exercises to help your body handle surgery and recovery more effectively.
Benefits of Pre-Surgical Rehab
Pre-surgical rehabilitation offers several advantages, including:
- Faster Recovery: Patients who do prehab often regain mobility and strength more quickly after surgery.
- Better Surgical Outcomes: A stronger, more mobile body leads to improved post-surgical results.
- Reduced Pain and Swelling: Preparing muscles and tissues before surgery can help minimize inflammation and discomfort.
- Increased Confidence: Knowing what to expect and being physically prepared can reduce anxiety.
- Lower Risk of Complications: Improved strength, balance, and fitness decrease the chance of post-surgical issues like infections or falls.
Who Can Benefit from Pre-Surgical Rehab
Pre-surgical rehab is beneficial for a wide range of procedures, including:
- Total Joint Replacements: Hip, knee, or shoulder replacements.
- Ligament Reconstructions: ACL or other knee ligament surgeries.
- Rotator Cuff Repairs: Preparing the shoulder for optimal recovery.
- Spinal Surgeries: Including discectomies and spinal fusions.
- Fracture Fixations: Recovery from severe fractures involving surgical hardware.
If you’re scheduled for surgery, prehab ensures you enter the operating room stronger, healthier, and ready for the best possible outcome.
Come See us To Prepare For Your Surgery!