Why am I hearing so much about “prehab”?
Pre-surgical rehabilitation, or “prehab,” is increasingly popular in the surgical and physical therapy communities. Just as “rehab” generally refers to work that patients do to recover after surgery or intense medical treatment, “prehab” is designed to be undertaken prior to that procedure.
What does pre-surgical rehabilitation accomplish?
To put it succinctly, prehab shortens rehab. For patients who have pre-planned joint replacements or other reparative operations, pre-surgical rehabilitation helps reduce the time and challenges of post-surgery rehabilitation.
After surgery, patients must re-learn how to move again. Much of that need comes from the lack of muscle mass and flexibility that their existing condition caused. In addition, the surgery itself often involves some pain and stiffness in the following days and weeks.
Pre-surgical rehabilitation is designed to help you regain some of your lost strength and flexibility before you even have the surgery, as well as build up your ability to heal more quickly after your operation. When done correctly, prehab can dramatically decrease the time and pain associated with post-surgical recovery.
What happens in “prehab”?
Assuming you have enough planning time, your pre-surgical rehabilitation sessions would start about six weeks before your operation, depending on what your doctor advises. We’ll also help you evaluate your goals and your concerns. (Many patients worry about climbing stairs after surgery, for example, or even that first walk to the hospital bathroom.)
During your sessions, you’ll be working on building your overall strength and endurance, so your body bounces back from the surgical trauma. In addition, your physical therapist will help structure a plan that meets the challenges of your particular surgery, such as building upper body strength if you’re going to be getting around on crutches.
What can I expect from pre-surgical rehabilitation?
Studies show that patients who participate in pre-surgical rehabilitation experience these specific benefits:
- Increased stamina and confidence. Not only will you have more aerobic endurance and muscle strength to take on postoperative routines, but you’ll have the confidence in having already built up the strategies for doing so.
- Increased mobility. Prehab gives you the physical flexibility you’ll need to work through post-surgical stiffness. Our physical therapists also coach you on techniques for maintaining your balance, and compensating for limbs you can’t fully use while you are recovering.
With pre-surgical rehabilitation, our highly trained team of physical therapists will put together the right program to ensure that your post-surgical rehabilitation is as brief and painless as possible. Call us for a consultation, or make an appointment online.
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
Post-surgical rehabilitation can be a long process. After surgery, the rehabilitation period can take many months and even up to a year in some cases. It’s important for postoperative patients to realize this. Whether it’s knee surgery, shoulder surgery or another type of surgery, the recovery period will take time. The actual timeframe for recovery depends on many factors. Post-surgical rehabilitation is a progressive activity. Tissues need to be stimulated, as they cannot recover on their own. Recovery is a complex process since tissue must also mature. The core of post-surgical rehabilitation is doing the right exercises and the right amount of exercises. The intensity of the stimulation should increase gradually and progressively.
The Benefits of Physical Therapy Post-Surgery
Most doctors and other medical professionals recommend physical therapy after having an operation because of its many benefits. The benefits of physical therapy post-op include:
- Promotion of healing
- Regain mobility
- Faster recovery
- Involvement in rehabilitation
- Address postoperative pain
- Reduce scar tissue formation
It is important for the body to heal after an operation. This could be to heal scar tissue or to retrain the muscles after surgery. With a physical therapist, patients can have a treatment plan designed specifically for their type of surgery. Surgeons diagnose and fix injuries; physical therapists improve the way you feel and function after surgery.
Surgeries in the lower extremities, especially the hips and knees, require physical therapy to regain mobility and flexibility. Physical therapy helps those injured return to their regular activities and daily tasks. Daily activities, such as walking and gardening, are possible again. Physical therapists understand the different stages of healing and know how to develop a treatment plan that speeds up recovery, so patients can return to their active lifestyle.
When developing a treatment plan, physical therapists always take into account pre-op fitness state and post-op goals. They access muscles and joints above and below the surgery site. Getting physical therapy services post-op allows patients to be actively engaged in recovery. It’s a collaborative relationship. Patients give physical therapists continual feedback about their progress and have a lot of input. Physical therapists develop specific exercise plans for each patient. Patients can learn the exercises with the physical therapist and then do them on their own at home. They may also provide passive treatments, such as manual massage, ultrasound and cold and hot therapies.
Therapy is usually divided into separate stages. The first phase comes immediately after surgery when the body part may be immobilized while pain and swelling start to reduce. Then comes a series of progressive exercises to improve range of motion, stability, and function. The last goal is to return the patient to a pre-injury activity level.
Physical therapy after surgery can put one on a faster track to recovery. Why let recovery take longer? Take advantage of our physical therapy services if you’ve had surgery. Click here to request an appointment at Ponchatoula or Livingston, LA centers a physical therapist today and get started on the road to recovery.