Optimizing Recovery After Orthopedic Surgery

Preparation before surgery is important, but rehabilitation after surgery is no less essential to ensure fast and effective recovery. After a patient’s orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation is very important because it reduces swelling, builds strength in the muscles, prevents the development of fibrosis, and prevents ankylosis and muscle atrophy. By taking these measures, the patient can return to his or her normal activities within a shorter time. Today, we would like to share some tips on optimizing recovery after orthopedic surgery.

After surgery, you should lift the injured part higher so as to increase blood circulation and blood flow back to the heart; thereby reducing swelling and pain. It is a very simple step to optimizing recovery after orthopedic surgery.

To optimize recovery after surgery, do not think about the injured part only. The neighboring body parts are no less important because organs within a system work together. Start by moving other body parts. If you have undergone surgery on your arm, work on the body parts that your doctor or physiotherapist has given you permission to move; start with opening and closing your hand as often as you can. The movement helps keep the blood pumping, as well as reducing swelling and pain. Secondly, it builds strength in the arm muscles and helps the bones to heal faster, as well.

After joint surgery, your doctor may not allow you to move the surgery site for the first few days, but you can still move other joints. To optimize recovery after surgery, you can exercise joints by rotating them or moving and bending to extend joint in a slow manner a few times or as much as you can. In this way, your joints will be strengthened and will not become stiff. When your doctor gives you permission to move the surgical joint, you may begin to rotate and move the joint gradually and slowly for a few times each day. If you cannot do it on your own, you can ask others to rotate it for you.

In the case of a broken leg or broken ankle, “practice walking” is an important part of physical rehabilitation after surgery. You may need a walking aid initially, but do not expect to walk immediately because you will need to be trained to use the walking aid first. In the beginning, you will have weight bearing restrictions and have to practice walking with the walking aid until you can use it very well. Walking in the proper way helps the broken bones heal together more quickly, due to proper weight- bearing management. This is why physical rehabilitation after surgery is very important.

Even when the orthopedic surgery is performed with the minimally invasive surgical technique (MIS), assisted by a surgical camera, it is still all about the surgery. However, it is very important for the bone healing process that the patients receive effective understanding and care from their families. The importance of recovery after orthopedic surgery cannot be overstated. If you want to return to your normal activities within the shortest possible time, it is important that you pay attention to the tips we have shared today to promote your optimal healing.