Orthopaedic surgery refers to a surgical procedure to correct or treat problems with your bones. The doctors who perform this type of surgery often specialize in trauma, sports injuries and problems with your back and spine. If you've had to undergo orthopaedic surgery, your job isn't done just because the surgery is over. The seriousness of orthopaedic surgery often requires patients to be educated about their surgery as well as rehabilitative protocols to help restore strength and mobility following the procedure.
Education
Even before your surgery, your doctor may begin to educate you on what will happen during the procedure and how it will affect them after the surgery is complete. This can involve instruction on how to prepare for your surgery as well as education on what to expect during and after the procedure. This will help you become more informed about your body as well as help prepare you for any pain and stiffness that results from the surgery.
Assessment
Your doctor and therapist are likely to get a baseline assessment of your strength and mobility prior to the surgery. This will include questions about the amount of pain you're suffering, the strength and mobility of the limb or area being operated on and any family history that could affect the outcome of your procedure. This assessment can include talking with you about your problem and family history as well as tests to measure your strength, range of motion and the stability of your injury.
Rehabilitation
Following your surgery, your doctor and therapist are likely to reassess your condition to determine how much therapy will be required. This can vary greatly, depending on your physical fitness and activity level prior to your surgery. The rehabilitative period can also be extended if you're unable or unwilling to suffer the pain and frustration that often accompanies orthopaedic surgery.
Phases of Physical Therapy
Your physical therapy will often be divided up into phases that are designed to help you return to your previous activity level. Immediately after surgery, your injury is likely to be immobilized for a week or so to allow the pain and swelling associated with your procedure to subside. This period is often followed by a period of progressively harder exercises designed to restore strength, stability and range of motion to the area that has been surgically repaired. The end goal of your physical therapy is to restore your body to its previous activity level.
