Preoperative physical therapy is a program custom designed for each patient by their physical therapist that can help them achieve greater outcomes after surgery. Goals for PreOp include:

• Mentally prepare for surgery
• Reduce pain and inflammation
• Restore range of motion
• Improve muscular control of the injured joint
• Normalize movement patterns prior to surgery
• Improve overall well-being and fitness
• Develop an understanding and become familiar with the post-surgery exercises

Postoperative physical therapy is a special form of physical therapy that focuses on speeding up the recovery process and improving form and function following surgery. It is essential to the recovery process. The physical therapist will follow the physician’s protocol and will focus on range of motion exercises, gait training, balance training, progressive strengthening exercises, and activity specific training to meet each individual’s unique needs. To help reduce discomfort and swelling, modalities such as ice may be used.

After surgery, physical therapy is typically started within 24-48 hours. While this may seem a little soon, it is essential to avoid excessive rest and keep the body moving, as this expedites the healing process. It also helps to restore movement and range of motion that the surgery may have limited.

There are four main steps to rehabilitating a muscle after surgery:

Step 1 — Practice patience and start slowly. One of the biggest challenges that most patients face while attempting to rebuild muscle is overcoming the realization that their body is not physically capable of the feats it once was prior to atrophy. Patients will have to gradually work up to their fitness goals, starting easy and slowly increasing the difficulty.

Step 2 — Before proceeding to free weights or other exercise regimens, physical therapists may recommend resistance bands to regain strength. Resistance bands can be attached to doors, beds or other stationary objects and, rather than being physically heavy, they rely on creating resistance while being stretched. For example, a 25-pound resistance band may only weigh a few ounces, as opposed to a barbell of the same weight. In addition to this, the risk for injury if losing control of a resistance band is reduced when compared to losing control of a 25-pound weight.

Step 3 — To help rebuild muscle, it may be recommended to choose a diet consisting of lean protein and complex carbohydrates. Lean proteins can include fish, chicken, and vegetables such as edamame and beans. Complex carbohydrates, such as wheat pasta, whole grain bread and granola, take longer to digest than processed carbohydrates such as white flour and will provide additional energy for working out.

Step 4 — Consult with a physician about protein needs; increasing protein intake may be appropriate while rebuilding muscle, but each patient’s overall health and nutritional needs must be considered. Protein intake can be increased in numerous ways, including adding chopped spinach to smoothies, adding dried skim milk powder to whole milk and dairy dishes, or sprinkling sliced almonds on salads and cereals.

REPAIR SI, Physical Therapy specializes in pre-and post-surgery physical therapy. Call us today to book an appointment, or visit our clinic conveniently located at 7146 Edinger Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647. We serve patients from Huntington Beach CA, Fountain Valley CA, Westminster CA, Costa Mesa CA, Newport Beach CA, Midway City CA, and surrounding areas. We look forward to serving you!