Pre-Surgical Rehabilitation

Research shows that pre-surgical rehabilitation has many benefits for the patient.

It decreases apprehension. The patient knows what to expect post surgery and can ask questions about such things as assistive devices (crutches, walkers etc.);medication regimes; sleeping and resting positions; immediate postoperative exercises, use of cryotherapy and blood clot avoidance regimes. The patient also becomes familiar with their therapist – this is essential as it helps the patient to feel confident in their therapist and results in increased compliance and decreased anxiety. It allows the therapist to evaluate the patient pre-operatively. Most importantly, the therapist can design an exercise program to be performed PRE -surgery, maximizing ROM and muscle strength before the operation. This improvement in specific function may even translate into a possible shorter rehab period after surgery.

The therapist will teach the patient how to walk with an assistive device, such as crutches or a walker. This should include stair climbing and transfers into and out of bed.

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