Have you recently undergone ankle surgery? Physical therapy can be crucial to making a good recovery after a major surgical operation. There are many kinds of ankle surgery, from tendon repair to total ankle replacement. Your recovery needs will depend on your particular operation and your condition afterward. As you work toward recovery, physical therapy can help you meet key milestones and manage discomfort. Physical therapy can be helpful before surgery as well as after. Whether you’ve already had surgery or you’re planning to have an operation, physical therapy can help you achieve the best outcome.
Benefits of starting physical therapy after ankle surgery
Restored range of motion — Does your ankle feel stiff after surgery? Following surgery, reduced flexibility around the ankle is common. Physical therapy can help you gradually restore your range of motion. Your physical therapist may incorporate targeted exercises such as ankle circles into your treatment plan. With safe, focused exercises, you can continually improve your condition without causing complications.
Improved muscle stability — Surgery can throw off your balance. You may have trouble feeling stable whenever you’re on your feet. This can increase your risk of falls, which could lead to injury. Physical therapy can help you feel more stable through a few different techniques. One helpful treatment method is balance training. With balance and gait training, your physical therapist can help you improve your balance and coordination. You can also learn how to walk without putting too much pressure on your recovering ankle. Your physical therapist may also guide you through ankle strengthening exercises. By building strength in the muscles that support your ankle, you can improve the stability of the ankle joint.
Pain relief — If you’re feeling persistent pain and discomfort following your surgery, physical therapy can be key to helping you experience relief. Common physical therapy treatments for addressing ankle pain include dry needling and manual therapy. These treatments can help relieve your discomfort while also accelerating your recovery. Another significant benefit of treatments like dry needling is inflammation reduction. Pain after surgery is often connected to swelling. By reducing your swelling, your physical therapist can help you experience lasting relief.
Reduced scar tissue — Scar tissue tends to form while the ankle is immobilized after surgery. This scar tissue may be hard and stiff, limiting your flexibility and causing you discomfort. Fortunately, physical therapy can help limit the amount of scar tissue you develop. Clinical observations demonstrate the effectiveness of manual therapy for scar tissue. By preventing excess scar tissue buildup, your physical therapist can help you avoid long-term stiffness while you heal.
Faster recovery — Physical therapy can play an essential role in accelerating your recovery journey. Treatments like manual therapy work to boost blood flow, which enables more nutrients to get to damaged tissue. Injured tissue can use these nutrients to repair itself. By improving your circulation, physical therapy can stimulate natural healing processes around your ankle, helping you recover faster. Physical therapy can also help you regain flexibility and strength after surgery. These benefits can enable you to return to your physical peak.
Lower reinjury risk — One of the main goals of postoperative physical therapy is to prevent further injury. Injuring your ankle while it’s still in recovery can lead to serious complications. As you recover, your physical therapist can help you practice injury prevention techniques to keep you safe. Stretches and strengthening exercises can play a crucial role in reducing the risk of reinjury. By strengthening the muscles around your ankle, you can stabilize your ankle joint and improve your physical resilience. This can help you avoid setbacks as you continue making progress toward recovery.
Improved physical capabilities — Recovery can be an ongoing process. With physical therapy, you can continue achieving goals and improving your capabilities. Want to continue improving your physical condition even after your ankle is healed? Treatment methods like cycling rehab and sports medicine can help you continue to achieve your physical fitness goals. Working with your physical therapist, you can experience health benefits that last a lifetime.
Get top-notch postoperative treatment at KC Rehab
After your ankle surgery, KC Rehab can help you get back on your feet. We offer a range of rehabilitative services designed to help our patients manage their symptoms and speed up their recovery. With our help, you can start making real strides toward recovery progress.
Contact our team today for more information about postsurgical rehab or to schedule an initial appointment.
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