After an orthopedic surgery, regaining motion and strength is vital. Advance Physical Therapy in Burien offers a range of services to assist in your full recovery.
Physical therapy may help if you had surgery on a joint, muscle, or tendon and are still experiencing any of the following:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Lack of motion
- Lack of strength
- Difficulty walking/rising/moving
- Scar site tightness
- Numbness/tingling
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
We create a custom physical therapy plan based on the type of surgery performed and a comprehensive initial evaluation. We never use a one-size-fits-all plan because what works for one person will not always work for someone else. We use the most specific treatments in order to optimize your outcome. We use a mix of multiple interventions such as:
- Manual Therapy (soft tissue mobilization, ASTYM, joint mobilizations, SNAGs, MWMs)
- Neuromuscular Re-education (MSK ultrasound, muscle stimulation, proprioceptive cues)
- Balance Training
- Gait Training (learning how to walk without assistive devices or compensation patterns)
- Therapeutic Exercises (specific to stretch and strengthen the affected area)
- Pain Relieving Modalities (Interferential electric stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound)
Benefits of Post-Surgery Physical Therapy
Starting a customized physical therapy plan as soon as possible after surgery helps to reduce swelling, assists in the healing of scar sites, and works to help restore a full range of motion/strength in the repaired area. Typical recovery times range from 4-8 weeks with procedures for the spine, total hip replacements, carpal tunnel release, and mensicus/labral arthroscopy usually being shorter and procedures such as rotator cuff, total knee replacements, and ACL reconstructions usually taking longer. We always adjust the type of therapy, amount, and intensity to the stage of recovery. If you are only 3 days post-op then your treatment will likely focus on reducing swelling and pain but after a few weeks of treatment we can work on increasing your motion and strength. Better to start soon after your surgery for optimal healing but even if you had the surgery several years ago, you can still benefit from a specifically designed post-surgery physical therapy plan. There is no expiration date on healing!
Contact us today to schedule your post-surgical consultation with Advance Physical Therapy in Burien and let us create a unique plan for your recovery.