Exploring the Importance of Post-Surgical Rehab
For some illnesses and diseases, the optimal solution is surgical intervention. While conservative approaches (pills, ointments, etc.) can sometimes work for minor ailments, surgery often restores the patient's health better and faster. However, while the surgical procedure itself can last a few hours, the recuperative process afterward, or rehabilitation, can last months or even years to restore optimal function to the affected area of the body entirely.
The role of post-surgical rehabilitation
As soon as the surgery is complete, the affected body parts begin to heal and mend. But, if not monitored (or improperly taken care of), the body won't heal properly, and there can even be significant discomfort to the patient.
A post-surgery rehabilitation process aims to improve a patient's well-being and mobility, nurturing them back to as close to normal health as possible, or at least the state before the disease. Medical professionals will often advise rehabilitation as soon as the body has recovered from the surgery itself, usually within a few days or weeks after the procedure.
Benefits of post-surgical rehabilitation
A post-surgery rehabilitation schedule offers the patient a controlled environment with trained medical professionals to improve the recuperation process by:
Improving muscle strength and function through meticulously developed exercise.
Engaging joint mobility and flexibility to prevent discomfort.
Enhancing blood flow to reduce swelling and the surgery's after-effects.
Re-training the body parts that were negatively affected by the illness.
Reinforcing the patient's balance after a long time spent being immobile.
Preventing unwanted scar tissue and correctly mobilizing the affected body areas.
What is involved in post-surgical rehab?
Rehabilitation is critical in the early stages of post-operative recovery to improve body function and slowly increase the patient's range of motion. The exercises are carefully planned and performed to prevent additional damage and discomfort.
Post-surgical rehabilitation starts slowly with gentle exercises and slow movements. You must maintain a delicate balance between the need for recovery and improving the patient's mobility. While patients should still receive plenty of rest, there needs to be an exercise component to get the body moving as before. Over time, exercises will become more vigorous to engage all body parts and ensure the patient's condition improves.
Who performs rehabilitation?
The type of ailment and the surgery performed will determine the type of rehabilitation. Several medical professionals will be a part of the post-surgical rehabilitation process. These include:
Physiatrists: Design exercises and modifies the rehabilitation plans according to a patient's specific needs.
Physical therapists: Teach and perform many of the plan's exercises, mostly focusing on developing and maintaining mobility in the patient's limbs.
Dietitians: Responsible for ensuring the patient receives optimal nutrition during the course of the rehabilitation process.
Speech therapists: Help improve a patient's speech, swallowing, and memory coordination after surgery on the brain or nerves.
Psychologists: Help maintain the patient's mental well-being throughout the rehabilitation process, which can greatly affect its success rate.
Nurses: Keep track of the recovery speed and general well-being while the patient is staying in a rehab center or at home.
Do you need post-surgical rehabilitation?
Contact a professional rehabilitation center for a safe environment to rest and recover. The expert medical staff will comply with your physician's recommendations and recuperation plans to get you back in top shape.
If you are looking for occupational or physical therapy, vestibular rehab, wheelchair training, lea
rning to walk, unweighting aquatic therapy, or other services in the Phoenix area, please call Touchstone Rehabilitation at 602-277-1073.