Post-Surgery Recovery: Massage Therapy’s Role in Physiotherapy Rehabilitation
Have you recently had or are you planning to have surgery? Did you know that massage therapy in post-surgery rehab can not only help alleviate your pain but can also help you recover faster? At Evolution Physiotherapy, our therapists believe in a hands-on approach to help you feel your best and function at your highest potential!
Too often, people expect medication to be their primary solution to finding relief after a surgical procedure. Although medication can help reduce some symptoms, they are not designed to treat the underlying physical issues that may be causing your pain. And because of this, any relief you experience will be temporary.
Fortunately, physiotherapy at Evolution Physiotherapy can give you solutions that reduce your pain while improving your overall function and well-being. Our team understands the power of targeted manual therapy techniques to help kickstart your recovery and ensure your joints and soft tissues are loose, limber, and ready to move.
Call our clinic today or read on to learn how manual therapy techniques can help you after surgery and get back to doing what you love!
What is Massage Therapy in Rehabilitation?
Massage therapy can play a vital role in post-surgical rehabilitation by addressing the muscle tightness, tension, and joint restrictions commonly experienced after surgery. Unlike traditional spa massages that focus on relaxation and full-body treatment, massage therapy in post-surgical rehabilitation is more targeted, focusing on specific areas of pain or restriction following a surgical procedure.
Following surgery, individuals often encounter difficulties moving the affected areas due to the formation of adhesions, a precursor to scar tissue, which can restrict joint mobility and cause pain or dysfunctional movement patterns.
Fortunately, various massage therapy techniques can help including the following:
- Joint mobilizations and manipulations
- Myofascial release
- Trigger point release
- Active release
Our physiotherapists will use these various therapeutic massage techniques to alleviate restrictions, facilitate smoother movement, and reduce pain and tightness, aiding in a more efficient post-surgical recovery!
What to Expect at Your Evolution Physiotherapy Massage Therapy Sessions
Dealing with pain or limitations after surgery can be mentally and physically exhausting. The key to a quick recovery after surgery is to see one of our physiotherapists for a comprehensive evaluation. Our therapists will conduct a thorough hands-on assessment to identify all the factors influencing your situation.
This means we’ll assess your muscles, joints, and nervous system and conduct a thorough history to learn more about your pain, injuries, and overall health.
We will use the information gathered to design a treatment program with targeted manual techniques and specific mobility work. We will also educate you on the most effective exercises and postures to complement our hands-on interventions.
The main benefits of manual therapy include the following:
- Improved Mobility: Targeted manual therapy, including joint mobilizations and myofascial release, can help your joint range of motion and soft tissue mobility after surgery, which helps improve your overall recovery.
- Free Up Adhesions: Adhesions are thickened bands of tissue that normally start to occur after surgery. If left untreated, adhesions can develop into tough scar tissue around the surgical site, resulting in restricted movement, pain, and delayed recovery.
- Increased Blood Flow: Blood flow is the foundation of healing. Therapeutic massage increases blood circulation, which helps reduce swelling and facilitates the healing process after surgery.
- Improve Your Immune System: Your body’s immune system (aka your natural defenses) is stimulated by a therapeutic massage. This means you will be better equipped to ward off infections or delays in your recovery following surgery.
Our goals are to help reduce pain quickly through manual therapy techniques, including myofascial release, trigger point releases, and other joint mobilizations and massage therapy in post-surgical rehab. We typically combine these manual techniques with stretches, postural education, and strengthening exercises to ensure your full recovery.
As you progress, our exercises will typically shift to more intense strengthening exercises and work on balance, coordination, or gait to ensure you are ready to tolerate the demands of an active lifestyle. We have proven results that can help you minimize your medication use and reduce your pain with our hands-on approach to care!
Book Your Session Today!
Our physiotherapists use massage therapy in post-surgery rehabilitation to help keep our patient’s muscles and joints working at their highest potential. Call Now!
Request an appointment today and learn more about how targeted therapy techniques can help you find relief and get back to doing what you love!
Sources:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229922000942
- https://journals.lww.com/ajpmr/Abstract/2017/09000/Massage_Therapy_for_Pain_and_Function_in_Patients.12.aspx
- https://journals.lww.com/jbjsjournal/Fulltext/2020/05201/Complementary_and_Alternative_Medicine_for.8.aspx