Your orthopedic surgeon or spine surgeon may recommend a course of occupational therapy or physical therapy to speed recovery, reduce pain and maximize function following surgery. Occupational therapy is recommended following elbow, wrist or hand surgery. Physical therapy is recommended following surgery on the neck, shoulder, back, hip, knee or ankle such as a total joint replacement, rotator cuff repair or spinal fusion.
How Can Therapy Help?
The goal of occupational or physical therapy will depend on the type of surgery you have and the activities you typically perform for work, leisure and personal care. Common goals include:
- Preventing disability
- Improving your ability to perform daily activities and tasks at work, school and home
- Reducing pain
What Can You Expect During Evaluation and Treatment?
At the first visit, your therapist will perform a thorough evaluation to assess how your nerves, muscles and bones function together after surgery and better understand the daily tasks and activities you need to perform. Next, your therapist will create an individualized treatment plan. He or she will discuss the treatment plan with you, including the number of treatment sessions and activities that will be included in future therapy sessions to reach your treatment goals.
Occupational and physical therapists use a number of different approaches to help patients recover from orthopedic surgery:
- Manual therapy is the skilled use of the therapist’s hands to reduce tension in the muscles, decrease pain and improve movement of the affected joint.
- Neuromuscular re-education is used to improve muscle control, balance and how your body moves.
- Therapeutic exercise involves stretching, strengthening and home exercise programs.
Which Therapists Provide Post-Surgical Evaluation and Treatment?
Our occupational therapist provides care for patients recovering from elbow, wrist and hand surgeries. All of our physical therapists provide care for patients recovering from neck, shoulder, back, hip, knee and ankle surgeries.
