Undergoing surgery is always a big deal. It doesn’t matter how many injuries you’ve experienced in your life, or how many times you have to undergo the knife — the task of recovering from surgery never gets easier. This is because having surgery makes you completely rethink how you can use your own body. During the recovery period you are forced to stop using some portion of your body. When it comes to surgery on joints, such as the knees, hips, shoulders or ankles, this can be a painful, debilitating and frustrating process. For many who undergo surgery for injury repair, it means going from living an active lifestyle to staying bedridden or immobilized for weeks!

Once the brace comes off and the sutures are healed, you may feel mentally ready to jump directly back into your regular life and way of being — but this will only land you back in the hospital for another trip under the knife.

Physical therapy is paramount for a healthy recovery from any form of surgery. The reason for this is that physical therapy gives your body a chance to train the muscles and ligaments surrounding your surgery site to be ready for movement again. If you don’t ease your body back into activity, you are putting yourself at risk for further injury and even more pain. Southeast Orthopedic Specialists can help you get your body back into pre-surgery shape by using targeted physical therapy practices that work, helping to alleviate back pain and shoulder pain as you get your body into peak shape.

Your Body After Surgery

After leaving the hospital, you are going to be sent home with a series of pain medications and instructions to stay still. While you might not think that sitting around is taxing on your body, it can be tough on muscles to go from movement to no movement. Your range of motion will be limited due to swelling, and for long-term recovery periods you may even experience some muscle atrophy.

This is what physical therapy is designed to support. Physical therapy is recommended as soon as the sutures are healed. This will help you get your circulation moving and will alleviate some of the swelling in your body. Once your range of motion is back, you can start improving muscle mass and taking steps to strengthen the area surrounding your surgery site, which will actually help prevent further injury issues.

Physical therapy is crucial after surgery. Don’t put your body at risk for long-term pain and repeat surgeries. Take advantage of the physical therapy resources offered locally by Southeast Orthopedic Specialists and learn moreabout your recovery options.