Why You Should Get Pre-operative Physiotherapy Rehab

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Getting pre-operative physiotherapy rehabilitation can be one of the best decisions a person can make for his or herself prior to undergoing a major surgery. Pre-operative physiotherapy rehab packs a powerful punch of benefits that many people are totally unaware of. This is probably because not nearly as many people receive physiotherapy rehab before a surgical procedure as they do after. If you are scheduled to have major surgery, consider pre-operative physiotherapy rehab for yourself.

What is Pre-operative Physiotherapy Rehab?

A pre-operative physiotherapy rehab program is an exercise-based program that is custom designed by a physiotherapist for individuals who plan to have a major surgery in the near future. The point of engaging in this type of rehab is to improve surgery outcomes, strengthen body and mind, and reduce a patient’s post-operative recovery time.

How Pre-operative Physiotherapy Rehab Strengthens Your Body and Mind

Do you plan to undergo a surgical procedure in the next few weeks or months? If so, pre-operative physiotherapy rehab may benefit you tremendously by preparing your body for surgery.

Major surgeries are hard on the body. They can leave a person physically and emotionally weak. Life after surgery for many people is largely sedentary, which causes muscles to atrophy and strength to further diminish. According to Drayer Physical Therapy, pre-operative physiotherapy…

  • Reduces pain and inflammation
  • Restores range of motion
  • Improves muscular control of the injured joint
  • Normalizes movement patterns before surgery
  • Improves well-being and increases fitness level

Working with a physiotherapist prior to surgery will not only make your body stronger; it will also prepare your mind for what to expect after surgery and will teach you how to help yourself. Drayer Physical Therapy staff wrote that pre-operative rehab familiarizes patients with the exercises they will be doing post-surgery, which reduces mental stress of the unknown.

Pre-operative Physiotherapy Rehab Can Save You Money

In addition to strengthening a person’s mind and body, pre-operative physiotherapy rehab saves patients money by reducing their need for post-operative care. The article Preoperative Physical Therapy Results in ‘Significant’ Reduction in Postoperative Care Use for Patients Undergoing Hip or Knee Replacement stated,

“A new study has found that as few as 1 to 2 sessions of preoperative physical therapy can reduce postoperative care use by 29% for patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement, adding up to health care cost savings of more than $1,000 per individual.”

The article said that only 54.2% of patients “who received even a small number of physical therapy sessions before surgery” needed post-acute care services, whereas 79.7% of patients who did not participate in physiotherapy sessions before their surgeries required it. Clearly, participating in a pre-operative physiotherapy program pays off financially, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Major surgeries can be stressful experiences. Pre-operative physiotherapy rehab is designed to decrease some of the mental, physical, and emotional stress caused by surgery. Would you ever consider reaching out to a physiotherapist before undergoing a surgical procedure?

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