Are you counting down the days until your total knee replacement, your total hip replacement or perhaps your shoulder? Well there are many ways to improve your odds of having a successful and quick recovery after surgery. One such way is to contact a physiotherapist to prepare your body, your mind, your home and even your caregivers for optimum recovery at home.

Why Would Seeing A Physiotherapist Before Your Surgery Be Helpful? 

To improve your strength, your function, prime your lymphatic system, practice walking with crutches or walker, practice stairs, set up equipment at home, home safety evaluation and calm any anxieties or concerns regarding your upcoming surgery.

How Does Lymphatic Drainage Help With Acute Swelling Such As After Surgery?

Surgery is an invasive procedure that will cause our bodies to react with pain, muscle inhibition, and swelling. This swelling, or edema, is needed to an extent to bring in circulation for healing but in most cases the swelling can be significant and cause further pain, prolonged pain or joint stiffness and limit the amount of new blood entering into the area and limit healing. Priming your lymphatic system with lymphatic massage prior to surgery as well as after surgery will help move that excess fluid in the right direction and aid in your recovery.

Why Would Seeing ME Help You Before And/Or After Your Surgery?

Because I also work on the orthopaedic ward of a hospital and I know first hand what you will go through in those first days after surgery. I have a good understanding of a variety of post-surgical rehabilitation protocols, what to do and what not to do after your surgery. I understand that it may be difficult to get to a clinic so soon after surgery. Or perhaps you prefer to have a full hour of hands-on, one-to-one physiotherapy in the comfort of your own home; something that may not or cannot be offered by CCAC/ LHIN.  I can be that attentive private physiotherapist that you are looking for.

What Does Post-Surgical Physiotherapy Involve ?

I would begin with a thorough assessment of strength, functional abilities, range of motion, walking ability, home environment and any other issues unique to you.

Then I would address these issues on an agreed upon priority list beginning with:

• decreasing post-surgical pain and edema (including lymphatic massage)
• improving range of motion as indicated by surgery or surgeon
• improve walking and ability to get out of bed, chairs, shower
• improve strength (including use of electro-acupuncture if desired)
• increase endurance and safety
• progress to new gait aids such as crutches or cane or nothing
• improve balance and stability
• return to a more normal or better you !

 

Make an appointment today !