Physiotherapy is an important part of many surgical procedures, and it’s particularly important following orthopaedic surgery.
What is a physiotherapist?
A physiotherapist is a healthcare professional who uses a holistic approach to help those suffering from illness or injury. A physiotherapist’s focus is to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life by helping patients to manage their pain and improve their mobility. This is usually achieved through a combination of movement, manual therapy, and sometimes other physiotherapy techniques such as acupuncture and ultrasound.
What training has a physiotherapist undergone?
Physiotherapists usually complete a dedicated undergraduate degree or a postgraduate course in physiotherapy. To practise as a chartered physiotherapist in the UK, they must then register with the Health & Care Professions Council.
The benefits of physiotherapy
- Physiotherapy is an effective way to restore mobility by improving your flexibility and strength, which in turn can help with balance and coordination.
- Physiotherapy can also be used to help relieve pain and inflammation. By focusing on areas that are causing you discomfort, your physiotherapist can increase your strength and flexibility using pain relief exercises.
- Your physiotherapy treatment can be tailored to suit you, so if aerobic exercise isn’t an option, there are gentler techniques such as stretching or massage that can be used. Your physiotherapist may even recommend a combination of treatments.
- During your treatment, your physiotherapist will most likely give you some exercises to do at home, which will help you to see quicker results. Eventually, once everyone’s happy with your progress you may able to continue your physiotherapy independently.
- Many physiotherapists are happy to provide treatment in a clinical environment, or in the comfort of your home. Sometimes the latter can be useful for helping your physiotherapist to understand your day-to-day movements and improve your confidence at home before moving on to bigger challenges.
Why is physiotherapy important following orthopaedic surgery?
In many cases patients who undergo orthopaedic surgery have already tried physiotherapy as a more conservative treatment.
Following your surgery physiotherapy is just as important and will help to restore the movement of your hip or knee and strengthen the surrounding muscles. Strengthening your muscles not only helps with movement, but it will also protect your joint against future injury.
In some cases it may not be possible to fully restore the mobility of your joint, and instead your physiotherapist might help you to find new ways to move that don’t put excessive strain on other joints.
Ultimately your physiotherapy will help you to get back on your feet as quickly and safely as possible following your surgery – ensuring the best long-term results.
Some procedures include two sessions of physiotherapy. These include hip replacement, knee replacement, arthroscopy and synovectomy. However, we are always happy to put you in touch with a local physiotherapist prior to and following any kind of procedure.
