Orthopedic surgery is often a last resort for severe musculoskeletal issues, but modern techniques make it highly effective. Procedures like knee or hip replacements, rotator cuff repair, and discectomy can relieve pain and restore mobility. To maximize your recovery, pre- and post-operative physical therapy is essential for pain management, faster healing, and improved outcomes.
At JAG PT, we create personalized rehab plans as soon as your surgery is scheduled, helping patients across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania return to their routines sooner. Schedule an appointment at your nearest JAG PT today or learn more below about the role of PT after surgery.
Why Is Physical Therapy Important After Orthopedic Surgery?
There are many different health concerns and goals related to the musculoskeletal system and beyond you may have after orthopedic surgery. Physical therapy is well-equipped to address many of them, using different techniques to enhance your recovery in multiple ways. A combination of manual therapy and aquatic therapy, for example, can improve circulation, thus speeding healing by allowing the circulatory system to deliver more nutrients. Meanwhile, specialized modalities such as the Graston technique tackle potential problems such as scar tissue buildup. And with exercise guidance from your therapist, you can better restore your strength and mobility in the affected areas.
By contrast, skipping rehabilitation or being inconsistent carries significant risks. Besides overall poor healing, missing out on PT after your operation means you may experience muscle stiffness, excessive inflammation, lessened range of motion, and long-term pain.
What Are the Most Common Surgeries That Require PT?
Almost every operation that is considered “orthopedic surgery” will require physical therapy in the aftermath. Some of the most prominent of these are prosthetic joint surgeries – total knee replacement, hip replacement, shoulder replacement, and similar operations. In all of these cases, a physical therapist will guide the patient in gradually increasing motion until they can fully function with the artificial joint.
PT is also critical after operations to repair severely torn connective tissue, such as rotator cuff repair or ACL reconstruction. In these cases, physical therapy helps protect the vulnerable tissue in the days and weeks following surgery, allowing the affected arm or leg to gradually bear weight again.
Finally, patients who have had spinal surgeries benefit greatly from PT. After a lumbar laminectomy or spinal fusion, physical therapy focuses on preventing pain and especially complications such as failed back syndrome.
What Does a Typical Post-Surgical PT Program Involve?
All cases of orthopedic surgery are unique, thanks to differences in anatomy, severity of injury, lifestyle, age, and many other factors. Therefore, post-operative physical therapy is customized to the needs of the patient. However, all parts of the musculoskeletal system have common features such as structure and the types of tissue that are present. Because of these anatomical reasons, post-surgical PT tends to follow a multi-stage timeline and always use certain basic techniques prior to more specialized ones.
The first stage of post-op physical therapy involves pain management only, as the newly repaired parts of the musculoskeletal system usually are not ready for movement yet. Once mobility will not risk reinjury, the physical therapist will help the patient use passive and active assisted range of motion techniques or gentle stretching and mobility exercises as appropriate. The third stage can begin once significant amounts of motion are restored and involves building the capabilities of muscles and joints – including strength, agility, and flexibility. In the final stage, the therapist advises the patient on their return to regular activity – which, for athletes, may even include playing sports once again.
In general, post-surgical PT consists of manual therapy (including medical massage), pain and inflammation control using heat and ice, and therapeutic exercise. Many patients will also be recommended modalities such as electrical stimulation and may be counseled on injury prevention techniques. Again, which physical therapy techniques are needed depends on the type of surgery and the patient’s individual situation.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Orthopedic Surgery with Physical Therapy?
All forms of orthopedic surgery are major medical events and therefore recovery timelines for any of these operations are measured in weeks to months. Nevertheless, some of these surgeries involve longer healing processes than others. The time it takes to recover may also be influenced by the patient’s age, their other health conditions, and especially the quality of their rehabilitation.
In general, most joint replacement surgeries, whether for the knee, hip, or otherwise, take anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks for recovery. Today’s prosthetic joints are durable and function just as a natural joint would, and therefore patients who receive proper PT care can be back to normal in this little time. By contrast, healing from a repaired tendon or ligament is more complex – ACL repair rehabilitation can last 3 to 6 months, and full recovery from rotator cuff surgery may take 6 to 12 months. Spinal surgeries have the potential for the longest recovery timeline, due to concerns over the sensitivity of the spinal cord, and spinal fusion in particular may need 12 to 24 months for full recovery.
Expert Rehab for a Faster, Safer Recovery at JAG PT
Where you get your post-surgical PT care matters. At JAG PT, our experienced and skilled therapists are committed to your fast and safe recovery. In the clinic, one of the most satisfying things for our teams is helping a patient overcome their physical limitations after surgery. When you choose JAG PT, you’ll benefit from the latest in orthopedic rehabilitation techniques and technology at any of our convenient locations near you. Schedule your appointment now to get started – working with a physical therapist as soon as your surgery team clears you is the first step to a great recovery.