recovery time

Advantages of Physical Therapy

Apr 7 2019

Advantages of Physical Therapy

Whether you have been injured or suffer from pain for another reason, it is possible that physical therapy can help. There are many doctors who recommend this therapy for their patients to help them manage problems. What are some of the advantages physical therapy can provide?

Improving Mobility

Do you have problems walking or even moving about? It is possible that you find it difficult to stand after sitting for a period of time. Physical therapy can help by strengthening muscles and making it easier for you to move. Stretching is another benefit that can help. Even if you need a device to assist you with walking, a physical therapist can ensure that you are correctly fitted for the type of device needed.

One of the reasons doctors refer patients to a physical therapist is to see if this will help before considering surgery. If you have an injury and physical therapy can help you to heal, this can be a more viable solution than undergoing surgery. The recovery time will be shorter, and your health costs will be more affordable. This is why centers, such as Brandon Chiropractic Associates provide physical therapy in Brandon, FL.

Enjoy a More Active Lifestyle

When you are constantly in pain or have problems walking, it can affect your lifestyle. You want to go places with friends and family, but you can’t. Physical therapy can help you regain mobility, so you can go on a family outing, to a concert, or any of the things you love to do. Not being able to do the things you have always enjoyed doing can lead to depression.

There are a number of treatments that can be performed by a physical therapist to help with a variety of problems. From spinal adjustments to TENS or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, it is possible that physical therapy could help put an end to your pain. Even if you end up needing surgery later, therapy can help you to become stronger, which means a faster recovery time.

By • Back Pain • • Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Jan 10 2017

Preparing For Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is often an elective procedure that you have done to improve the look of an area of the body, such as a breast enlargement or the reconstruction of the nose so that it’s smaller. There are a few things that you can do to prepare for North Carolina plastic surgery procedures so that you’re as relaxed as possible. First, talk to the doctor about what is involved with the procedure and what to expect with recovery. There will sometimes be a drain that will relieve pressure from the area of the body that is operated on, especially if it’s a breast enlargement or a reduction, as you don’t want excess fluid building in the body. Find out when you need to return to the doctor for a post-op appointment and when you can begin normal routines again after surgery.

Schedule the surgery at a time when you are healthy. Avoid having surgery done if you’re dealing with any kind of illness, even a cold, as it can make the recovery time longer. It can also cause complications with the surgery itself, such as causing an infection to spread. Make sure you get the essential nutrients before the procedure. Pump the body full of calcium, vitamin A and C and zinc. These are components that will help the body to heal after the procedure. If the body is full of these essentials, then it will also give you a bit more energy for when the surgery is over so that you can do any rehab that might be necessary depending on what you have done.

You need to stop taking any kind of supplements or medications a few days before the surgery as they can sometimes interfere with the medications you’re given during the procedure. Drink plenty of water so that the body stays hydrated. Don’t take aspirin or products that have aspirin in them because they can promote bleeding. You should also avoid alcohol as this can thin the blood as well. Smoking should be stopped about a week before the surgery as this can deplete the oxygen levels, making it harder to breathe after the procedure is completed.

By • Health Care, Surgery • • Tags: , , , , , ,

recovery process

Dec 6 2013

How to Reduce Hip Surgery Recovery Time

Patients who have experienced the chronic hip pain associated with degenerative arthritis or other conditions understand that undergoing hip replacement surgery may be the best option to alleviate their condition. This is a major decision, and many factors should be considered with a doctor before electing to proceed with the surgery. If the decision has been made to undergo the surgery, there are a number of steps that should be taken to reduce hip surgery recovery time. Investing time and effort into recovery will greatly improve the likelihood that the surgery will be successful and that the patient will be able to regain functional use of their hip.

 

Preoperative Preparation

 

The recovery process from hip surgery actually begins in the preoperative phase. There are a number of activities that preoperative patients can engage in that will increase the likelihood of a successful surgery while also helping to ensure a relatively quick recovery process. Engaging in physical activity will help to build muscle and strengthen the tissues around the hip, which can help to combat the loss of muscle strength in the postoperative period. Stretching can also be of great benefit, as increased flexibility is an important goal in the postoperative physical therapy. Any activity taking place before surgery should be first approved be a physician, and performed only if the patient is strong enough to do so.

 

Postoperative Physical Therapy

 

During the postoperative period, physical therapy is the most important aspect of recovery. Therapy can begin as soon as the day after the surgery, with patients performing exercises while seated, and with the assistance of a physical therapist. The routine prescribed by the physician and physical therapists must be strictly adhered to, though it may be modified by the doctor or therapist depending on a patient’s progress. If the program is not adhered to, there are a number of potentially negative outcomes:

  • Contractures
  • Excess scar tissue
  • Mobility limitations

Through physical therapy, the muscles around the hip are strengthened and flexibility is improved. If the therapy is ignored, contractures can result from the formation of excess scar tissue. The excess scar tissue will then serve to impede the patient’s mobility, and will threaten the success of the surgery.

 

Explore Alternative Hip Surgery Methods

 

New techniques are being developed that may allow patients to recover much faster than traditional surgeries. These new methods use a smaller incision and do not surgically dislocate the hip. This procedure allows patients to recover significantly faster, with some patients being able to walk the same day as the surgery was performed. This is because there is less trauma to the muscles and tendons surrounding the hip, thereby reducing the amount of physical therapy necessary in the postoperative period.

 

Having surgery to replace a hip is a very major procedure, and must be taken seriously in all aspects. Preparing for the surgery by engaging in strengthening exercises can help to reduce recovery time, while proper performance of physical therapy will also aid in the recovery process. Additionally, patients can explore alternative surgical methods that are less invasive, leading to a significant reduction in the recovery time necessary.

Source: www.medicinenet.com, “Total Hip Replacement,” W.C. Shiel, 2013

By • Arthritis • • Tags: , , , , , , , ,