Sports injuries are common among athletes and other physically active people. Luckily, after surgery, professional help can help you get back on track. Post-operative physical therapy helps individuals recover from surgery and health issues associated with it. Let’s learn more about what they do.
What Do Physical Therapists Do?
These professionals assess the physical abilities and limitations of a patient before, during, and after injury or surgery. They work closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals to develop physical therapy plans tailored to the needs of each patient. They provide physical exercises and activities to help improve physical function or range of motion, reduce pain, and promote recovery.
How Do They Help With Post-Operative Rehabilitation?
Simply put, they help patients of all ages recover physical strength and mobility after surgery. The body must heal after any surgical procedure, and help is sometimes needed. Individuals regain physical strength, mobility, and physical activity levels they had before the surgery. Interventions may include exercises and activities to help improve physical function or range of motion, reduce pain, and promote recovery. Additionally, physical therapists use heat and cold therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, massage, and more to provide physical therapy for post-operative rehabilitation.
What Type of Surgery Does Physical Therapy Help With?
Therapists can help with post-operative physical rehabilitation for surgeries ranging from orthopedic, musculoskeletal, sports injuries, neurological and cardiovascular operations. As physical therapists are considered experts in movement science, they are the ideal professionals for restoring physical functioning after surgery. It’s important to note that such therapists are licensed healthcare professionals with extensive knowledge and experience in physical therapy for post-operative care.
How Long Will I Have to Get Physical Therapy?
Your therapy timeframe depends on the physical therapist’s assessment. Depending on the extent of the surgery, physical therapists may suggest a physical therapy plan that lasts a few weeks, or an intensive physical therapy plan that lasts several months.
As of 2019, there are 312,716 physical therapists in the United States, according to The Good Body. If you’re recovering from surgery or injury, then you have many certified professionals to choose from. It’s important to look for physical therapists certified by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and licensed in your state. Look no further and contact our office for local therapy today. We’ll create a personalized therapy plan to help you have a successful recovery.
