But..
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What
are the things to do?
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Will
you be able to go back to work or play?
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How
long is it going to take?
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What
should be avoided and what should be recommended?
Let
this post and our physiotherapist help you with your concerns!
Our physiotherapist is
experienced in the management and rehabilitation of a wide range of surgical
cases, including but not limited to:
- Joint Replacements – knee,
hip, ankle and shoulder
- Arthroscopies – knee, hip,
ankle, shoulder and other joints
- Ligament and tendon reconstructions
including Rotator Cuff Repairs, ACL/MCL/LCL/AFTL reconstructions
- Tibial Tubercle Transfers
i.e. TTT
- Joint fusions – Ankle, foot
- Spinal Surgery – Including
fusions, laminectomy and discectomy
- Fracture Management, and
many more!
Post Op Rehabilitation (After
Surgery)
Your rehabilitation will be individualized depending on the procedure performed,
your specialist’s protocols and your personal rehabilitation goals – be it to
return sport, work or to pain free daily activities.
Appropriate post-op rehabilitation
is crucial in achieving optimum outcome and minimising the risk of
complications. Your rehabilitation at Core Medical and Physiotherapy will include
a combination of manual therapy (such as mobilisations and massage), exercise
rehabilitation (home exercise programs and gym based rehabilitation),
education, advice on self-management and walking re-education if appropriate.
Post op rehabilitation commences
in hospital the day after your surgery under guidance of a physiotherapist and
continues even after you are discharged home. Ultimately how much benefit you
gain from your surgical procedure is up to you! A structured exercise program will
improve mobility and strength around the joint as it heals. Swelling and scar
tissue could prevent full range of movement resulting in decreased mobility.
Post op exercise not only restores movement in the joint, but also decreases
pain and improves muscular strength. Which equates to early return to
work/sport!
Pre-Operative Rehabilitation
(Before Surgery)
While the need for rehabilitation following surgery is well recorded, the
importance of exercising before surgery is often overlooked. Due to the months
of pain and reduced activity leading up to surgery, muscles weaken, walking,
balance and fitness deteriorate. It is recommended that you perform a program
of land and / or water based strengthening, flexibility and general fitness
exercises for 30 to 60 minutes, three times a week for at least six weeks prior
to joint surgery.
Studies have shown reduced pain
and increased physical function following surgery in patients who had performed
an exercise program prior to surgery compared with those who had not. A six
week exercise program can increase muscle strength by 20%, reducing the chance of
extended inpatient rehabilitation prior to discharge after surgery by 73%.
In another study, the
effect of completing a 6 week exercise protocol consisting of strengthening
exercises of the lower limbs, prior to hip and knee replacement surgery was
explored.
The major outcomes of that study were that by
participating in pre-surgery exercise, patients were more likely to be
discharged from hospital to home, rather than to a rehabilitation hospital.
Post joint-replacement patients were more likely to independently ambulate
greater than 50 feet at the point of discharge.
So what where
do you fit in all this?
Simply put,
if you are experiencing arthritic symptoms, such as pain, stiffness and
inflammation in the joint and your doctor has indicated that you may be in
need a joint replacement in the future; there may be some benefit in
participating in “pre- operative rehabilitation” before your surgery. By
commencing a strengthening exercise program, you are likely to return to back
to 100% quicker than if you do nothing pre-surgery.
Other benefits of a pre op
exercise program include:
- Improved Balance – Reduced
risk of falls.
- Weight Loss – Reduces stresses
on your new joint
All this leads to a better
outcome and reduced recovery time following your surgical procedure. For more
information, contact us at Core Medical & Physiotherapy at 6500 1510