From total hip replacements to ACL repairs, orthopedic surgery isn’t exactly a walk in the park. In fact, full rehabilitation for most of these procedures can take up to a year (and sometimes longer). Fortunately, advanced rehab techniques at Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness can help you use that time effectively as you work to ensure a successful outcome.
There’s no denying that physical therapy plays a significant role in helping you both prepare and recover from surgery. As musculoskeletal experts, we understand what makes your joints happy and healthy–and that’s knowledge we’re happy to share during your rehabilitation. Contact us at Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness.
When it comes to post-surgical rehabilitation, we have three main goals:
- Reduce your pain
- Start working on mobility as soon as possible
- Restore strength and function to the affected joint
To achieve these goals, we develop a customized treatment plan that blends several different advanced rehab techniques. Want a quick overview? Keep reading–or call our clinic to talk to our friendly staff!
An Overview of Advanced Rehab Techniques
- Manual Therapy: This is an umbrella term for several hands-on approaches to manage pain, improve mobility, and promote blood circulation. Two common manual therapy techniques are…
- Joint mobilization, in which we guide your impacted joint through its current range of motion. This technique is beneficial early on in rehab when you struggle to perform more active exercises.
- Soft tissue manipulation, in which we massage your muscles, tendons, or ligaments to break up scar tissue, reduce pain, and improve range of motion. Reducing scar tissue is important in post-surgical rehab; if allowed to develop, it can cause chronic pain and mobility problems.
- Stretches and Mobility Work: In the early stages of rehabilitation, your primary focus will be on improving joint mobility. While joint mobilization helps, so do targeted stretches and mobility exercises. We’ll let you know which ones will work for you.
- Targeted Strength Training: As you regain mobility, it’s time to start restoring the strength in the muscles that surround your impacted joint. Why? They’ve been weakened not only by the surgery but by the injury or condition that led to the surgery, and strong muscles support and stabilize your joint. We’ll guide you through a customized strengthening program.
- Functional Training: After your surgery, you may struggle to perform certain movements–you might have impaired balance or find it difficult to take the stairs. We’ll work with you on restoring your ability to do these day-to-day activities. For athletes, we can help with sports-specific training.
- Return-to-Activity Schedules: A few months after your surgery, you may find you’re no longer experiencing pain or significant mobility restrictions–but that doesn’t mean you’re fully rehabilitated. A personalized return-to-activity schedule lets you know which movements you can safely perform, which you can perform with modifications, and which you should skip entirely.
Which Techniques Will Work Best For You?
The most effective post-operative rehabilitation is one that’s tailored to you: your surgery, your ability levels, and your recovery goals. When you begin outpatient physical therapy after your procedure, our therapists will work closely with you and your care team to decide which advanced rehab techniques will be most effective for you.
Ready to get started? Schedule an initial consultation with Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness today!
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