Pre-Operative Rehabilitation

Most of us are familiar with a comprehensive post-operative rehabilitation program designed to promote healing, reduce pain and swelling, restore joint mobility, flexibility and strength. However, many of us are not aware of the benefits of a structured pre-operative or “pre-habilitation” program.

This is a program designed by therapists at Skagit Hand Therapy to help you prior to surgery so that you can have a great outcome after surgery. The goals of a pre-habilitation program:

• Mentally prepare for surgery
• Reduce pain and inflammation
• Restore range of motion
• Improving muscular control of the injured joint
• Normalizing movement patterns prior to your surgery
• Improved overall well-being and fitness
• Gain a good understanding of the exercises that you will perform immediately after surgery

Post-Operative Rehabilitation

Hand therapy is typically indicated following an upper extremity surgery such as operations on shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand and finger to facilitate a speedy recovery. Hand therapy can start anywhere from a few hours to a few days after surgery and in some cases, there may be a period of immobilization following surgery.

A patient’s ability to regain motion and strength and ultimately return to their daily activities depend on hand therapy. The body will not regain normal motion without specific retraining. Hand therapists are specifically trained to restore range of motion and strength without compensation and to prevent re-injury during the recovery process. The therapist can also provide the patient with specific guidelines to allow optimal healing.

After a thorough evaluation by a hand therapist, goals will be set to minimize the adverse effects of surgery such as pain and swelling as well as to restore normal movement, flexibility and function. The therapist and patient will work together to establish functional goals related to resuming normal activities of living as well as preventing an injury from recurring. The therapist will then design an exercise program tailored specifically to the patient’s needs and abilities, and work.

Therapy is often divided into distinct phases. The first comes immediately after surgery when the body part may be immobilized while pain and swelling subside. Then comes a series of progressively challenging exercises to restore range of motion, stability, and strength. The final goal is to return the patient to a pre-injury activity level. Post-operative treatments may specifically include:

• Strategies for pain reduction including modalities such as ice, heat, and electrical stimulation
• Flexibility exercises to improve range of motion
• Exercises to strengthen muscles
• Manual therapy techniques
• Self-care training
• Home exercise instruction