Pre-Surgical Rehab Kitchener, Waterloo, Elmira, ON

Surgical Rehab

Cut Your Recovery Time Down with Pre-hab! 

Do you have a surgical operation planned in the near future? It is natural to be a little worried about how well the surgery will go or how long your recovery period may be. Patients are encouraged to participate in physiotherapy treatments after surgery as part of their recovery plan, which is undeniably helpful for the healing process. However, there are also several benefits to completing a pre-surgical rehabilitation plan.

What exactly is pre-hab?

Pre-surgical rehabilitation, also referred to as pre-hab, is becoming an increasingly recommended practice by surgeons, as it can improve the outcomes for their patients. Studies have shown that beginning physiotherapy a month or so before surgery can significantly speed up your recovery time. 

It is no secret that the preparation for surgery can leave you feeling anxious, but a pre-hab program may be able to put your mind at ease. A pre-surgical rehabilitation plan will help you get physically and mentally prepared for your upcoming procedure. Take control of your recovery now and request a consult with SOS Physiotherapy.

What can it do for me?

Surgery can take a traumatic toll on your body; therefore, it should only be performed when there are no other options available. According to the National Institutes of Health, participating in exercise therapies prior to surgery can improve your post-operative outcomes and reduce your recovery time; so why not give it a try?

Pre-hab helps improve strength and promote pain relief before surgery, as it prepares your body for the procedure. It can also help you prepare mentally, by encouraging an overall sense of well-being. Pre-hab helps to improve your range of motion and patterns of movement with exercises that you can perform before and after your surgery, in order to speed up your recovery time. In general, physiotherapy will assist you in improving your physical health and promoting general wellness. Still not convinced? Keep reading.

Why should I consider pre-hab?

There are six key aspects to pre-surgical rehabilitation and how it can help you be successful:

  1. Pre-hab improves outcomes. The American Physiotherapy Association (APTA) states that pre-hab can improve the overall outcomes of surgery, and can even help in saving money if everything goes smoothly. The stronger you are before the surgery, the more likely the surgery will be successful.
  2. Pre-hab reduces complications. Physiotherapy treatments, especially those incorporating exercise programs, can help increase your strength and endurance. As a result, this can improve your immunity, meaning that the chance of infection after surgery will be much less likely.
  3. Pre-hab reduces pain. No matter what your surgery may be for, our physiotherapist can help reduce your pain through pre-hab. This can be done through a variety of methods, including manual therapy, exercise, massage, or ice and heat therapies.
  4. Pre-hab increases stamina. Whatever surgery you may need, there will always be a loss of strength following the procedure. However, pre-hab can help reduce the amount of strength you lose by increasing your stamina before the operation. Engaging in a physical routine before surgery will improve your overall stamina and make the surgery much easier.
  5. Pre-hab shortens recovery. By completing a pre-hab program before your surgery, your recovery should go much smoother than it would without pre-surgical physiotherapy treatments. Having strong and toned muscles before surgery helps you get back to your regular routine much quicker.
  6. Pre-hab may help you avoid surgery. If your pre-hab treatments work well in improving your pain and overall condition, it may be possible to avoid surgery altogether. While it is not always a common case, some patients found that their pre-hab treatments did wonders, and were sufficient enough in reducing their pain that they canceled their procedure. If your condition begins to improve considerably after starting physiotherapy, you’ll want to consult with your physician regarding future treatment options and the possibility of avoiding surgery.

Celebrating Our Patients’ Success

A few years ago, I suffered a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery. Both before + after this surgery, I was treated by Jon at SOS Physiotherapy, with amazing results. The usual rehab time for this surgery is six months. However, after TWO months, I was well on my way to attaining full strength + movement in this area.
– Marlene Dunham

I sought out Physiotherapy to relieve chronic spine and joint pain and have noticed considerate improvement in motion and decreased pain in my hips and legs.

– M.P

How can I get started?

Pre-surgical rehabilitation has been known to provide a number of benefits for pre-surgical patients. By consulting with one of our Kitchener, Waterloo, Elmira, or Guelph, ON physiotherapists, you can find out what treatment plan will be best for you to achieve optimum results. When you are as strong, flexible, and healthy as possible, you are able to regain normal function much quicker, following surgery. Starting a pre-hab program also means you’ll be able to establish a positive training routine that you will already be accustomed to before your surgery, and that you can take into your post-surgical recovery for a better outcome.

If you are planning on having surgery, contact SOS Physiotherapy today to speak with one of our qualified team members. For the best results, it’s important to get started as soon as possible. Schedule your appointment today to prepare for an easier procedure and recovery period.

Recover From Your Surgery as Quickly as Possible

Do you have a surgery coming up that you’ve been anxious about? It is normal to be a bit nervous when planning for surgery, wondering how quickly you’ll be able to get back to doing all the things you love. Fortunately, knowing you have a post-surgical physiotherapy plan set beforehand can help ease some of your stress. 

Are you looking to recover from your surgery as quickly as possible? Of course, you are! Let SOS Physiotherapy help! Contact us today for an appointment with one of our dedicated physiotherapists in Kitchener, Waterloo, Elmira, and Guelph, ON. They will create a personalized treatment plan for your specific needs so you can get back to your life faster!

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Why do I need surgery?

When conservative treatment options for an injury or health condition fail to provide effective relief, many physicians will recommend surgical correction. Some common conditions that may lead to surgery include, but are not limited to:

  • Total hip replacements
  • Full or partial knee replacements
  • Rotator cuff tears
  • ACL, MCL, and/or meniscus repairs
  • Heart surgery – ablations, stent placements, cardiac pacemakers, etc

The impact of these surgeries on your body should not be understated. Most surgeries incur at least some degree of pain, inflammation, mobility limitations, and swelling. To complicate matters, you likely were already experiencing pain and dysfunction prior to your operation!

To accommodate healing tissues and/or to avoid recurring dysfunction, it is likely that you will have to learn how to do certain things all over again, like walking and getting dressed. Our physiotherapists in Kitchener, Waterloo, Elmira, and Guelph, ON can teach you how to perform tasks safely while following critical post-operative guidelines. These guidelines are often outlined by your surgeon and could include safe positions for your hip, knee, sternal, spine, non-weight bearing guidelines, etc.

How can I benefit from post-surgical rehab?

Both pre- and post-surgical rehab are essential elements of successful surgical outcomes. Any type of surgery can be considered a form of trauma and can affect the body differently. Even minor and uncomplicated surgical procedures can have a major impact on your health. Because of this, post-surgical rehab with a physiotherapist is especially important, in order to make sure everything goes smoothly after your operation is done.

Individualized post-surgical rehab at SOS Physiotherapy not only minimizes your pain and accelerates your rate of healing, but it can also reduce the chances of post-operative complications, including infections, bleeding, blood clots, muscle weakness, scar tissue, decreased function, and other factors that can negatively impact your long-term health.

Another critical reason for selecting post-surgical physiotherapy is its ability to help you reduce or completely avoid prescription painkillers, including opioids. An opioid epidemic is currently gripping the country and impacting every socioeconomic class. According to the CDC, an estimated 115 people every day die from an opioid overdose, and upwards of 29% of people, prescribed opioids will end up misusing these dangerous drugs.

For this reason, the CDC advises people to choose physiotherapy over prescription painkillers whenever possible.

Get started on your post-surgical treatment plan today:

While your physician may recommend pain management drugs, physiotherapy has been known to relieve pain without the need for them. Pain-killing drugs mask the pain while physiotherapy resolves the issue where the pain is originating. This is achieved with specialized methods, techniques, and modalities, such as ultrasound, joint mobilizations, laser therapy, electrical stimulation, and home exercise programs.

Whatever you may need surgery for, SOS Physiotherapy can help you get to your optimum levels of function afterward. Our physiotherapists in Kitchener, Waterloo, Elmira, or Guelph, ON will create a treatment plan that will include targeted stretches and exercises to help you recover and get back to your normal daily life.

We are dedicated to making sure you are living a healthy life, even after your post-surgical rehab treatments are over. Because of this, part of your treatment plan will also include education on any lifestyle and/or nutritional changes you can make in order to optimize your long-term health, avoid injuring yourself and avoid the need for additional surgeries in the future.

The days and weeks following a surgical procedure may result in physical limitations. Our physiotherapist can advise you on ways to accommodate these limitations, such as how to go up and down the stairs, put on clothes, or get in and out of a car. This can be done with the assistance of adaptive tools to compensate for reduced movement. By making these adjustments, you will be able to move around comfortably while also working to restore the normal range of movement in your body.

If you are planning on having a surgical operation in the near future, don’t wait to set up your post-surgical rehab plan. Do it today with SOS Physiotherapy. We’ll provide you with everything you need to get back to your life as quickly and easily as possible!

Your Next Steps…

  1. Request An Appointment

  2. Receive A Custom Treatment Plan

  3. Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery

  4. Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!

GET BACK TO ENJOYING YOUR LIFE AGAIN, GET STARTED TODAY!