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5 REASONS TO CHOOSE PHYSICAL THERAPY AFTER SURGERY

After surgery, rehabilitation speeds the healing process, and it helps you learn the best way to care for yourself and return to daily activities.

Some of the patients are quite hesitant and might delay the Physical Therapy. Delay can be a challenge for patient and a big problem later down the line. Loss of Strength, muscle stiffness, Regaining proper movements of surgical part are the complications must face by patient after the delay after surgery, A physical Therapist helps to improve health with quality of care, in order to the things they want to do again. By choosing Physical Therapy at right time you can avoid surgery. In the Physical Therapy variety of techniques used to attempt for the injured part or surgical part. Before you go to the surgery must get PT visit first, after surgery you will have get to the Rehab area, why not to try it first. Physical therapist believes in the statement- any discomfort on the body can be cure and should be treated. No matter what king of surgery you are undertaking but the physical therapy after surgery will help you to know the best way to care for yourself and restart your daily routine. Following are the Reasons:-

1. Boost up Mobility, Strength and Balance-May be an image of one or more people

Loss of Mobility can have a devastating effect on your quality of life. Surgery can restrict your range of motion. Physical Therapy helps to improve mobility through movement, strength techniques; they help to improve muscle tone. Depending upon the severity of surgery, PTs would improve your balance. Physical Therapy is a vital part of healing for any type of surgery. Without ability to move freely and without pain a person may experience depression, weight gain and other health consequences. Even people lose the self- confidence. The goal of physical therapist is to get back to independent life and confidence. Ultimately Physical therapist will do whatever is necessary for your health. Physical Therapy can provide a safe and gradual plan to get you confidently back on your feet. And if the surgery took place in the arm, wrist, or hand, therapists can help you sharpen your fine motor skills again.

2. Reduce Pain & Swelling-

May be an image of one or more people and text that says 'REDUCE SWELLING & PAIN'

Physical Therapy never hurt, that’s why it is best choice when you have long term pain after surgery. Physical therapists are experts not only in treating pain, but also a source. Swelling after surgery is another basic step of healing. Electric nerve stimulation is short term relieve given through skin helps to improve strength and relieves muscles spasms. Heat Therapy is given for pain and inflammation and increase range of motion. Ice packs are recommended for 3-4 times a day and for swelling your physical therapist may provide massages and rehabilitation can help to decrease swelling and restrict the surgical pain from becoming chronic.

3. Reduce Scare Tissue Formation

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After surgery scar formation is a natural occurrence as scars helps to strength the tissues. Your immune system respond against the injury and scars arise over your skin due to collection of new cells that cover the site of injury. Some scars can be large and painful or tender. Excess scar of tissue can reduce function and movement for months after procedure. Many massage techniques, Pressure therapy, and Ultrasound therapy to reduce the thickness of scar, simply bending and extending the joints close to scar will also reduce tissue formation. By treating your pain with, you can reduce your dependency on taking medications for stiffness and pain of tough scar tissue.

4. Reduce development of Secondary Issues: 

Loss of Mobility can have a devastating effect on your quality of life. Surgery can restrict your range of motion. Physical Therapy helps to improve mobility through movement, strength techniques; they help to improve muscle tone. Depending upon the severity of surgery, PTs would improve your balance. Physical Therapy is a vital part of healing for any type of surgery. Without ability to move freely and without pain a person may experience depression, weight gain and other health consequences. Even people lose the self- confidence. The goal of physical therapist is to get back to independent life and confidence. Ultimately Physical therapist will do whatever is necessary for your health. Physical Therapy can provide a safe and gradual plan to get you confidently back on your feet. And if the surgery took place in the arm, wrist, or hand, therapists can help you sharpen your fine motor skills again.

5. Improves Flexibility-

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A fractured bone or rehabilitation after surgery requires weeks o rest were the muscles are not used at all. To prevent from injury increasing your flexibility is crucial step. Loss of flexibility leads to weekend muscles that easily become stiff, that effect jumping, running, walking bending and stretching movements. Restoring normal range of motion after surgery stretching techniques helps to maintain flexibility by reducing resistance in muscle tissue. Contracting and stretching of muscle by planned exercise during rehabilitation improve performance and enable to do everyday activity. Such training allows you to easier and deeper movements by increasing flexibility that must provide wide range of physical benefits.

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HAND THERAPY

Does your hand hurt? Have you noticed symptoms of pain, discomfort, fatigue and weakness in one or both of your hands? Are your fingers locking and unable to extend, without assistance from the other hand? Have you experienced numbness and tingling that has gotten progressively worse? Does your hand feel clumsy and are you noticing that you drop things from your hand more frequently or are unable to pick up things or open containers with your hands? If so, you may be suffering from one or more of the following chronic hand and upper extremity conditions such as arthritis, tendinitis, or nerve conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Has your hand or upper extremity been affected by an accident or trauma leaving you with wounds, scars, burns, injured tendons or nerves, fractures, dislocations or amputations of your fingers, hand or arm? Have you undergone prolonged casting or underwent a surgical procedure? Are you now experiencing severe pain and limitations in motion and function, associated with your injuries?

Whether you are suffering from a chronic hand and upper extremity condition or recently experienced an acute injury, you may be a candidate for hand therapy. If your physician has not already recommended it, you should ask him for a referral so that you can expedite your recovery process.

What is hand therapy? Hand therapy is specialized therapy that focuses specifically on conditions affecting the hand and upper extremity. It can be performed by an Occupational Therapist or Physical therapist who has a high degree of specialization that requires continuing education and often advanced certification.

What can hand therapy do for me?
• Provide preventative , Non-operative or conservative treatment
• Manage acute or chronic pain
• Provide wound care to include care of open and or sutured wounds (prevention of infection and assistance in healing)
• Control hypertrophy (raised and/or swollen) scars or hypersensitive scars
• Reduce swelling
• Instruct in desensitization and sensory re-education following nerve injury or trauma
• Fabricate splints for prevention or correction of injury or to protect surgical sites or to increase movement
• Design and implement home exercise programs to increase motion, dexterity, and/or strength
• Train in the performance of daily life skills through adapted methods and equipment
• Conditioning prior to returning to work

What is a Certified Hand Therapist?
A Certified Hand Therapist (C.H.T.) is an occupational/physical therapist who specializes in the treatment of hands.
They must have a minimum of 5 years postgraduate experience with at least 4,000 hours in hand therapy and have successfully challenged the Hand Therapy Certification Commission exam in order to obtain these credentials. CHT’s are dedicated professionals who have a commitment to meet the highest standards of their profession. The hand and arm have an extremely intricate anatomy and complexity. Rehabilitation of the hand and arm requires in-depth knowledge and up-to-date techniques. Certified Hand Therapists have the highest level of competence in the rehabilitation of upper extremity injuries.
Certified Hand Therapists are able to initiate treatment immediately following surgery often while stitches are still in place. Early referral to a hand therapist is effective in preventing further surgeries and obtaining an optimal outcome.

Hopefully, this information helps you to make the right decision, when consulting your medical specialist.
“Restoring life back into your hands”