Physical and Occupational therapy before and after surgery

What Is Prehab?

Prehab is a proactive approach to prepare your body for surgery. It focuses on strengthening muscles, improving range of motion, and enhancing overall physical conditioning to:

• Reduce recovery time after surgery.

• Lower the risk of complications.

• Improve post-surgical outcomes.

Your physical therapist will tailor a prehab program to your specific needs, targeting the joint to be replaced and addressing surrounding muscle groups. For instance:

• Hip Surgery Prehab: Focuses on strengthening the glutes, quads, and core while improving hip mobility.

• Knee Surgery Prehab: Prioritizes quad activation, hamstring flexibility, knee stability,and core and hip strengthening.

• Shoulder Surgery Prehab: Emphasizes rotator cuff strengthening, shoulder blade mobility, thoracic spine mobility,y and strengthening muscles of the upper back and neck to tolerate the sling.

• Elbow, Wrist, Hand Prehab: Emphasizes forearm and wrist strengthening, tendon glides, postural strengthening, mobility, thoracic spine mobility, and strengthening muscles of the upper back and neck.

Following our Prepare, Practice, and Organize framework, your physical therapist will help you develop a plan for a triumphant return home from the hospital. Click here to read more on our blog: ‘7 Tips and Tricks to Prepare for Surgery.’

What to Expect from Recovery

Rehabilitation is essential for restoring function and achieving the best possible outcomes after your joint replacement surgery. Rehab programs typically progress through three phases:

1. Early Recovery (Weeks 1-4)

   • Focus: Pain management, swelling reduction, and gentle range of motion exercises.

   • Techniques: Ice therapy, assisted movement exercises, and gentle muscle activation.

2. Intermediate Recovery (Weeks 4-12)

   • Focus: Regaining strength, improving mobility, and restoring functional movement patterns.

   • Techniques: Gradual strengthening exercises, balance training, and weight-bearing activities.

3. Advanced Recovery (Months 3-6)

   • Focus: Returning to daily activities and building endurance.

   • Techniques: Advanced strengthening, sport-specific training (if applicable), and functional movement drills.

Your physical therapist will guide you through these stages, ensuring exercises are performed safely and effectively. Timelines may vary depending on the surgery, level of conditioning prior, and postoperative protocol.

Benefits of Physical Therapy after surgery

Whether you’re preparing for or recovering from a hip, knee, or shoulder replacement, or any other replacement, physical therapy provides:

• Reduction in pain and stiffness.

• Improved joint mobility and range of motion.

• Strengthened muscles to support the new joint.

• Faster return to daily activities and hobbies you love.

• Prevention of future injuries by improving movement patterns.