By Brooke Strickland and Dr. Andrew Cash
Post-operative rehabilitation is the period of recovery after surgery. Depending on the extent of the injury or severity of the surgery, the rehabilitation process may need to be tailored accordingly. Post-operative rehabilitation is important to long-term recovery and better health in the long run and when completed correctly, can help speed up recovery and prevent other future injuries.
Attentive post-operative care is crucial in promoting healing. After surgery, you will meet with a trained physical therapist that will cover what types of care you’ll receive. Some of the exercises and strengthening movements you will likely practice include:
- Movements to get in and out of bed and into chairs
- Joint exercises to keep joints mobile
- Strengthening exercises
- How to get in and out of cars
- Home exercise routines
- How to navigate stairs
- How to care for yourself, such as dressing, bathing, using the restroom, etc.
Depending on the surgery, initial rehab will usually include range of motion exercises in order to help regain function of the part of the body that has been injured. Other activities may include walking, aerobic work, or stationary bicycling. As therapy continues and motion increases, strengthening exercises will start and once motion is restored to almost normal, you will be able to begin light workouts. It’s important to remember, though, that even months after surgery you may be feeling more back to normal, but emphasis should remain on light activity in order to stimulate full healing.
Contact Dr. Cash at Desert Institute of Spine Care for an appointment at: http://www.disclv.com.
You can also view Dr. Cash's Verified Reviews® at www.medrounds.org/Dr_Andrew_Cash or his personal page at www.andrew-cash-md.com.