Pre-Surgical Rehabilitation

What is Pre-Surgical Rehabilitation?

Do you have an upcoming surgery? Your doctor may recommend pre-surgical rehabilitation before surgery to help you during and after the operation. You may not have to imagine too hard what it feels like in the part of your body where you are expecting to have surgery. Is it strong and ready for anything or is it weak, inflamed and painful? Have you exercised the area to improve blood flow and circulation or have you been favoring that part of your body, trying not to move unless it is absolutely necessary?

In most cases, patients who resort to surgery to solve their movement problems are not in the best of health or physical condition. Otherwise, they wouldn’t need surgery, right? Pre-surgical Physical Therapy not only strengthens the surrounding muscles and tissues in anticipation of surgery, but it can help improve blood flow and circulation that are so important for wound healing and the prevention of scar tissue. Physical Therapy can also help improve your overall health in preparation for the strain and stress that often goes with general anesthesia, surgery, and recovery.

Does Pre-hab Really Work?

As a whole, studies have shown that patients who participate in some form of pre-hab do not spend as many days in the hospital after surgery, return to normal function, and have better movement long after recovery than those who do not. Many surgeons have begun “prescribing” sessions with a Physical Therapist before they will consider operating on a patient, especially if that patient is over the age of 65, has previously not been in good health, or is at risk for postoperative complications. Most HMO’s and insurance companies are also recognizing pre-surgical rehabilitation as a cost-saving measure and have begun to cover the cost of these treatment plans.