Physiotherapy can play an important role both before and after surgery. Whether you are preparing for an operation or beginning your recovery afterwards, rehabilitation can help you maintain or restore movement, strength and function and work towards the activities that are important to you.
At Corsham Physiotherapy, your rehabilitation will be individually tailored to you, your operation and your stage of recovery. We can work alongside the advice and rehabilitation programme provided by your surgeon, hospital or NHS physiotherapy team.
Preparing for Surgery – Pre-Hab
If you know that you are going to have surgery, the work you do beforehand can help prepare you for both the operation and the rehabilitation that follows.
Pre-operative rehabilitation, often called pre-hab, can focus on improving or maintaining your movement, strength and general physical condition before surgery. This can be particularly relevant before procedures such as knee or hip replacement, where going into surgery as mobile and strong as your condition allows can give you a better starting point for your recovery.
Your programme will be tailored to your condition, the operation you are having and any guidance from your surgical team. It can also give you an opportunity to become familiar with exercises and movements that may form part of your rehabilitation afterwards.
If you are waiting for surgery, you don’t necessarily need to wait until after your operation to start working on your recovery.
Physiotherapy after surgery
Following surgery, physiotherapy can help you work through the different stages of recovery at a pace appropriate to your procedure and individual circumstances.
In the earlier stages, our priority is often to help manage pain and swelling, support tissue healing, regain movement and begin appropriate exercises.
As healing progresses, rehabilitation can be advanced to rebuild strength, improve function and gradually return you to everyday activities, work, exercise or sport.
One-to-one physiotherapy allows us to monitor your progress and adapt your treatment and exercise programme as your recovery develops.
Rehabilitation tailored to your operation
Different operations have different precautions, healing times and rehabilitation requirements. We will take account of the procedure you have had, your surgeon’s guidance and any rehabilitation protocols provided to you.
Your rehabilitation will also be tailored to you. Two people having the same operation may have different starting points, goals and rates of progress, so your programme can be adjusted as your movement, strength and function improve.
Operations we commonly provide rehabilitation for:
Hip & knee surgery:
- Total hip replacement
- Total knee replacement
- ACL reconstruction
- Meniscus surgery
Shoulder surgery:
- Total shoulder replacement
- SLAP lesion repair
- Bankart repair
- Other shoulder surgery
Spinal surgery:
- Laminectomy
- Discectomy
Foot & ankle surgery:
- Ankle ligament reconstruction
- Hallux valgus surgery
- Arthrodesis
Other orthopaedic surgery:
- Tendon repairs or transfers
- Other joint, muscle and tendon procedures
This isn’t an exhaustive list. If you are preparing for or recovering from an operation that isn’t listed here, please contact us and we can advise whether physiotherapy with us would be appropriate.
Helping with Pain, Swelling & Tissue Healing
Exercise is an important part of rehabilitation, but it isn’t necessarily the only part of your treatment.
Alongside your rehabilitation, treatment may also focus on helping to manage pain and swelling, improve movement and support the healing of tissues following surgery. Depending on your operation, stage of healing and individual needs, your physiotherapist may use hands-on techniques or treatments such as electrotherapy or therapeutic laser where appropriate.
As your recovery progresses, the emphasis can gradually move towards rebuilding movement, strength and function.
Building strength & returning to activity
As healing progresses, rehabilitation can be gradually advanced according to your goals. For some people, the priority may be walking comfortably, using stairs or returning to everyday activities. For others it may be returning to work, the gym, running or competitive sport.
We can progressively develop your rehabilitation as your strength and function improve, helping bridge the gap between the early stages of recovery and getting back to the activities that matter to you.
Read more about Exercise & Rehabilitation
Already Having NHS or Hospital Physiotherapy?
You can see us whether your operation was carried out privately or through the NHS.
You can also choose to have additional private physiotherapy while following a rehabilitation programme provided by your hospital or NHS physiotherapy service. We can work alongside the guidance you have been given and tailor your additional treatment and rehabilitation accordingly.
Book Pre or Post-surgery Physiotherapy
Whether you are preparing for surgery, have recently had an operation or are further along in your recovery and would like help progressing your rehabilitation, our physiotherapists can assess where you are now and plan the next stage with you.
Please either contact our reception or book online to make an appointment.