Pre and Post Surgery
Physiotherapy plays an important role in recovery both before and after surgery and helps to improve outcomes.
What is pre-operative physiotherapy and how does it help?
Physiotherapy prior to surgery aims to maximise functional capability prior to surgery. This is done through a combination of manual therapy to improve function and exercise/ stretches to improve muscle strength and joint mobility prior to surgery. Ideally, you would attend physiotherapy up to a few months prior to surgery to allow appropriate time to build strength. This has been shown to aid post-operative outcomes and speed up recovery time post-surgery. References?
What is post-operative physiotherapy and how does it help?
Recovery following surgery can sometimes be a simple and relatively pain-free endeavour, or it can be quite a lengthy, difficult process depending on the type and location of surgery, and on a patient’s pre-existing health status and surgery complications. In most cases, post-operative physiotherapy will be recommended by your surgeon, for optimal rehabilitation, and an optimal result.
Physiotherapy normally starts with your surgeon’s recommendation; however one to two weeks post-surgery is a likely timeframe. A Physiotherapy consultation at this point entails a comprehensive physical and functional assessment, and revision of your surgeons notes and recommendations. Treatment may consist of a combination of manual therapy and exercise, and normally includes a home exercise program for optimal rehabilitation, following any instructions from your surgeon. Exercises and manual therapy will be progressed as able throughout your recovery with the aims to restore range of movement and function, allowing you to return to normal activities as soon as possible and in the best way possible.