What Is Post-Surgery Rehabilitation And Why Is It Necessary?
Updated: Sep 16
Unfortunately, no matter how much we might wish, life doesn't go back to normal right away after surgery.
Whether you had a simple routine operation or suffered a traumatic car accident, you will need time to get back on your feet and function as usual.
Post-surgery rehabilitation can significantly speed up recovery and support better long-term outcomes from your treatment and surgery.
Physical therapy (PT) is a big part of the post-operative rehabilitation process and helps patients regain strength, mobility, and confidence. It includes techniques such as stretches, exercises, hands-on therapy, and other modalities, each targeted to the areas affected by your surgery.
Let's take a look at how physical therapy can help and what else you should consider.
What is Post-Surgery Rehabilitation?
Post-surgery rehabilitation is a specially designed program to re-establish muscle strength and joint function, prevent respiratory and vascular complications, increase mobility, and give the patient confidence to live a full life again.
Physical therapy is the primary tool to achieve these goals. See our guide to types of physical therapy for a fuller picture of what it involves. Nonetheless, other health professionals play a part too.
Rehabilitation after surgery can take anywhere from a couple of months to a full year, depending on the procedure and the patient's recovery. How long each program lasts depends on the surgery and its outcomes.
The most common surgeries after which patients benefit from post-surgery rehabilitation:
Orthopedic (bone, joint, and muscle surgeries)
Obstetric and gynecological (postnatal recovery, hysterectomy)
Spinal and neurological (disc repairs and replacements, brain surgery)
Abdominal and thoracic (lungs, heart, liver, gastrointestinal system, and other organs)
Breast (resections and reconstructions)
Urological (bladder and prostate)
Where does it take place?
Post-surgery rehabilitation usually starts right away in the hospital and then continues at your physical therapist's office or your home.
The in-hospital rehabilitation will depend on your specific surgery and its outcomes and will be prescribed by your doctors.
Usually, you get an introduction to your rehabilitation, get equipment, exercise advice, and learn how to move safely after the surgery.
First Rehabilitation Steps At The Hospital:
Movement assistance: helping and teaching you to move safely, advising and teaching you to use mobility aids like crutches, etc.
Splints and slings: fitting of splints or slings and instructing you how to do that at home.
Breathing exercises: you will be given some tips on how to breathe properly to avoid respiratory and vascular complications
Future rehabilitation advice: your doctors will explain what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months and suggest the treatment plan (or recommend another professional).
Discharge advice: you will be informed about any necessary equipment and tools you will need at home for your rehabilitation
Exercises: you might be taught specific exercises you can perform at home once your recovery reaches the right stage.
Outpatient Post-Surgery Rehabilitation
Once you're discharged from the hospital, you might have a referral to a physical therapist, but you can also find one yourself. This is where the long road to recovery begins.
Your therapist and other health specialists will create an individual treatment plan that will help you recover and improve your range of motion, coordination, and strength. The end goal of this is for you to resume your usual activities as much as possible, get back to work and live a fulfilled life.
The treatment modalities might include:
Hands-on mobilization and massage;
Guided and at-home exercises;
Hot and Cold Therapy;
Electrical stimulation and TENS;
Why You Need Post-Operative Rehabilitation
Sometimes patients think or hope that the rehabilitation tips at the hospital are enough for them to recover. Unfortunately, that's not the case, and you need to commit to rehabilitation for months to come.
Post-surgery physical therapy and other rehabilitation treatments help strengthen and mobilize affected joints and muscles, and improve circulation and breathing.
Post-surgery rehabilitation helps:
Manage your pain and discomfort
Regain your independence
Strengthen and stretch muscles
Improve circulation and range of motion
Improve lung volume and prevent chest infections
Return to your usual daily activities
Reduce any anxiety and regain your confidence
Increase comfort and reduce the risk of pressure sores
Here's a closer look at the most common benefits:
Pain Reduction or Elimination
Pain is one of the most common issues when recovering after surgery. Sometimes there's a misconception that physical therapy can cause even more pain, but that's entirely not true.
Various treatment modalities and exercises actually help reduce or completely eliminate pain by restoring muscle and joint function.
Regained or enhanced mobility
If you've ever had surgery, you know how difficult it can be to move the way you did before. Your range of motion is reduced by surgery, and it might be difficult to walk and perform various tasks.
Physical therapy and targeted exercises can help increase your range of motion, and may include temporary use of mobility aids like crutches, canes, or walkers. See our full breakdown of why physical therapy matters after surgery.
Better muscle function
Since you spend so much time immobile after surgery, your muscles can get stiff and tense. A physical therapy program can help improve muscle function, strength, flexibility, and endurance, typically through a combination of massage, hands-on therapy, and targeted exercise.
Better balance
Surgery places significant physical stress on the body, and it takes time to fully recover. Losing balance and falling is a common problem after operations. Post-operative physical therapy can teach specific exercises that help prevent falls.
Improved blood circulation
Extended time in bed after surgery can affect blood circulation, making it an important area of focus during recovery.
Proper blood circulation is crucial to recovery and healing as it carries oxygen and other nutrients throughout the body.
What Does a Full Rehabilitation Program Include?
While physical therapy is one of the primary tools for healing after surgery, a full recovery plan often involves other specialists too.
Here are all the health professionals you may benefit from during your rehabilitation after surgery.
Occupational therapist
Depending on your surgery and its outcome, you might need help to regain some basic skills such as cooking, showering or getting dressed. An occupational therapist can help you relearn these quicker and easier and share specific techniques that will make your life more manageable.
Nutritionist
Proper nutrition is crucial to healing, and a nutritionist can help you plan a healthy meal menu. They can also work with your doctor to include specific products and nutrients that will speed up your healing process.
Speech therapist
After certain surgeries, such as brain surgery, patients may need help regaining speech, swallowing, or cognitive-communication skills, and a speech therapist plays an essential role in that recovery.
At-home nurses
Having an at-home nurse can be extremely helpful when this service is available to you. They will not only help you with your daily tasks but will also keep track of your rehabilitation appointments, recovery, medicine etc. You may not need a live-in nurse as a couple of hours a day often suffices.
Psychologist
Taking care of your mental health is extremely important after surgery. Many patients experience anxiety, stress, and even depression, so a counselor or a psychologist can help you navigate this difficult time.
Sometimes patients underestimate the importance of this and think taking care of the physical body is enough. But a healthy mind makes you feel better, more committed to the rehabilitation work, and actually speeds the whole process up.
How Long Will It Take?
How long post-surgery rehabilitation takes is not an easy question to answer, since each patient and each situation is different.
t may take anywhere from a few months to a full year to reach a full recovery.
If there are no complications and if you stay committed to the rehabilitation process, a year is commonly the longest it takes.
It's also important to know that some patients don't return to 100% of their previous capacity. Your doctor and physical therapist should address this possibility with you both after surgery and throughout rehabilitation.
Having reasonable expectations will help avoid disappointments and focus on the task at hand.
Final Thoughts
Post-surgery rehabilitation is a gradual process that might take weeks, months, or even a year.
Physical therapy remains central to that process from start to finish, supported by other specialists depending on what your specific recovery requires.
Recovery begins at the hospital and continues at the physical therapist's office or patient's home.
Besides physical therapy, it is recommended to consider consulting with other medical professionals such as a nutritionist, psychologist, occupational therapist and speech therapist to address every aspect of recovery.
At Miracle Rehab Clinic, our team can help guide your recovery from the first appointment through full function.
Find our clinics at Farmington Hills and Warren and schedule a free no-obligation consultation with a therapist in person or over the phone.
If you're ready to begin post-surgery rehabilitation, contact us and we'll work to get you scheduled as quickly as possible.
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