When you are recovering from surgery, you typically won't be as mobile are you usually are, and surgery can take a tremendous toll on your body. During this period, you have a greater risk of developing a blood clot, and a combination of temporary changes to your gait and general fatigue can lead to poor posture, which can lead to muscle stiffness and pain. Regardless of the type of surgery you've had, adding physiotherapy to your recovery plan can help your recovery to go smoothly and reduce your risk of developing certain post-surgical complications. Here are a few reasons to work with a physiotherapist after surgery:
Improving Muscle Strength
A long recovery period and the physical trauma your body endures during surgery can cause muscle wasting to occur very quickly. A physiotherapist can work with you to create a gentle and suitable exercise plan that will help you strengthen your muscles regardless of the stage of recovery you are in. Even if you are not yet able to get up and walk around, there are exercises you can do to build your strength, and staying physically active can reduce your risk of developing trapped nerves and blood clots.
Increasing Range Of Motion
Some types of surgery can leave you with a reduced range of motion during recovery, which can lead to joint stiffness. A physiotherapist can show you how to do targeted exercises that specifically work on improving range of motion in the affected part of your body. These exercises can help you to move positions more comfortably during recovery, ease stiffness and allow you to retain your independence as your body heals.
Correcting Poor Posture
Poor posture is common after surgery, as it can feel natural to want to stoop forwards when you are healing and parts of your body feel vulnerable or weak. A physiotherapist can help you regain good posture with a combination of back-strengthening exercises and supportive aids, such as a back brace. Supportive aids help to hold your back in the correct position for healthy spinal alignment and will prevent you from slouching. Using supportive aids can retrain muscle memory, so when the aids are no longer required, your body will naturally assume a healthy posture.
If you'd like to work with a physiotherapist to aid your recovery from surgery, you can arrange this either pre- or post-surgery. Schedule a physiotherapy appointment to get an idea of how they can help with your specific circumstances.
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