PHYSICAL THERAPY

Physical Therapy (PT) is treatment that works to preserve or restore functionality and range of motion to joints impaired or threatened by disease, injury, or disability. After having a restorative or reconstructive knee or shoulder operation, physical therapy plays a critical role in getting you back to moving without pain and impediment. It is common for patients of all ages to participate in physical therapy to help restore functionality and range of motion to injured joints and tissue.  If the recovery from your procedure prohibits you from performing everyday tasks, physical therapy is strongly recommended.

Physical Therapy Sessions

During sessions, a physical therapist works with you to recover strength and stability in your injured joint. The goal of each session is to get you back to living your life before injury, with a strong and healthy joint. This is achieved through a combination of :

• Therapeutic exercise
• Physical modalities (e.g. massage and electrotherapy) and
• Assistive devices (e.g. cane, walker, crutches etc.)

Physical therapy could be needed for a few weeks after your procedure, or a few months. The duration of your physical therapy schedule will depend on the nature of your injury, and the procedure performed. But no matter how long you’re scheduled for treatment, it is important that you remain dedicated and focused on your recovery. Physical therapy is the last step toward your getting back to a normal you, so always take it seriously.

Doctor-Provided Guidelines

After your procedure, your doctor will provide you with some physical therapy guidelines that are specific for your recovery. These guidelines will include therapy goals, precautions, treatment recommendations, and minimum criteria needed to progress to the next phase of therapy.