Having joint surgery? Come to Scerbo for Post-Surgical Care and Recovery

By Dr. Michael E. Pomykala, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS //

Patients can often avoid orthopedic surgery by first trying physical therapy, but sometimes surgery is necessary. Physical therapy helps people both prepare for and recover after surgery. Today I’d like to focus on how post-operative physical therapy promotes optimal healing and helps reduce pain and restore mobility.

Physical therapy is usually indicated following orthopedic surgery, such as repair or replacement of hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, hand, neck, foot, ankle, and spine. Anywhere from a few hours to a few days after surgery, or as recommended by your surgeon, you can have a thorough evaluation by one of our physical therapy physicians, and together we will set goals for your optimal recovery.

Immediately after surgery, the joint area may need to be immobilized while the pain and swelling subside. The next phase of your therapy is a series of individualized progressive exercises to gradually restore range of motion, stability, and strength. The goal is to get you back to a pre-injury activity level. The body needs to be retrained in order to regain normal motion. Our physical therapists are specifically trained to restore range of motion and strength and help get your body back into balance. We will also monitor and time your progress to prevent re-injury during recovery.

Post-operative treatments may specifically include:

• Strategies for pain reduction including the application of ice, heat, and electrical stimulation
• Manual therapy techniques
• Flexibility exercises to improve range of motion
• Exercises to strengthen muscles
• Posture, balance, and coordination training
• Gait analysis and training
• Self-care training
• Home exercise instruction

At Scerbo Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation, we specialize in pre-and post-orthopedic surgery rehab, arthroscopic surgery rehab, and joint replacement rehab. We work with your health care providers to empower you to take an active role in your post-op care and recovery.

As soon as you know you will be needing surgery, we suggest you let us know so we can discuss ways to better prepare you for surgery and speed your post-surgery recovery.

To make an appointment with Dr. Pomykala, call us at 201-941-2240.