After surviving your surgical journey, have you ever wondered what lies beyond the land of post-operative recovery? While rest remains the cornerstone during the initial healing phase, post-surgery exercise plays an important role in aiding rehabilitation and restoring your body’s full functionality¹.
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But why exactly is post-operative exercise important? Let’s learn all about the benefits here!
1. Helps Improve Circulation, Increase Flexibility and Promote Healing
One of the primary advantages of post-surgery massage therapy is its great ability in enhancing blood circulation throughout your body. This therapy kickstarts your circulation, transporting vital nutrients and oxygen to every corner of your healing tissues, accelerating your recovery process and reducing the risk of complications.
But that’s not all! In conjunction with massage therapy, post-operative rehabilitation exercises play a vital role in the recovery process as they help in restoring strength, flexibility, and range of motion to affected areas. Rehab exercises aid in improving joint stability and enhancing overall functionality. This comes in extremely handy after surgery to prevent scar tissue from forming, which can lead to pesky restrictions and discomfort. By maintaining or even improving flexibility, you get to embrace your newfound freedom in range of motion, resulting in a smoother and more successful recovery.
2. Prevents Muscle Atrophy
After surgery, your body might feel like hitting the snooze button on activity and this lack of movement can directly cause muscle atrophy. But with post-operative exercises, you can avoid loss of your hard-earned muscle mass, strength and endurance². Incorporating a well-balanced exercise routine tailored to your recovery journey is your secret weapon against muscle loss as it rebuilds your strength and enhances your physical performance while maintaining stability and balance.
3. Reduces Pain And Optimising Recovery
When you engage in post-operative physiotherapy rehabilitation, the role of pain is intriguingly complex. Imagine your body’s limits dropped after surgery, pain shows where those limits are. Just like finding the right balance, there’s a tipping point where the pain stops being helpful and starts getting in the way, slowing down your recovery instead of speeding it up. Talk to your physiotherapist and craft a plan that pushes you just enough for a successful recovery without going overboard with pain.
4. Boost Mood and Mental Well-Being
Beyond the physical benefits of post-surgery exercises, these movements also uplifts your spirits in subtle but meaningful ways. Surgery and recovery can be a turbulent ride, sometimes invoking worry and stress. However, with each gentle exercise, a sprinkle of endorphins, those natural mood enhancers, starts to work its magic. It’s not about an instant transformation into a constant state of euphoria, but rather these endorphins offer pockets of happiness and contentment.
From enhancing blood circulation to preserving muscle strength, boosting flexibility, and uplifting our spirits, the power of movement is undeniable. By incorporating a well-structured and personalised exercise routine into the recovery process, you can optimise your healing potential and return to your daily activities with newfound vitality.
So, if you are ready to embark on a transformative journey of post-operative exercise, do schedule an appointment with us at The Movement Laboratory. Our expert physiotherapists are your partners in propelling you towards your recovery aspirations at an accelerated pace. With our guidance, you’re not just embarking on a journey, but a purposeful expedition towards optimal well-being. We customise every step of your rehabilitation, tailoring techniques to match your unique needs. Through our skilful hands-on approach, strategic exercises, and insightful advice, you’ll harness the power to attain your goals faster and more effectively. Let our physiotherapy experts guide you through your recovery adventure, paving the way to a healthier, happier you! Contact us today to know more.
References
- Hoogeboom, T. J., Dronkers, J. J., & Hulzebos, H. J. (2014). Merits of exercise therapy before and after major surgery. Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology, 27(2), 161-166. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACO.0000000000000062
- Fang, A., Ding, W., Zeng, W., Zhou, J., Zhu, H., Yan, J., & Wang, N10.1016/j.physio.2013.08.008. (2021). Impact of early postoperative activities on postoperative recovery in patients undergoing abdominal surgery: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine, 100(44). https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000027556