The Benefits of Pre-Hab and Post-Op Therapy For Seniors
Whether you’re preparing for a joint replacement, a fracture repair, or some other surgery altogether, the procedure is really only one piece of the puzzle. You probably already know that you’ll need to rehabilitate afterward, but working on strength, balance, and stamina before you go into the operating room can make a big difference, too.
At REHABILITY NJ, our multidisciplinary team provides both pre-surgical rehabilitation (commonly referred to as “prehab”) and post-surgical rehabilitation to help older adults reduce pain, maintain independence, and return to daily activities more quickly. With programs that combine physical therapy, chiropractic care, and acupuncture, we take pride in offering truly comprehensive care.
THE REHABILITY NJ CARE TO SHARE PROMOTION!
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A Closer Look at Prehab
Prehab is a structured plan you do before surgery to prepare your body for the stress of the operation and the recovery that follows. You might think of it as training for the demands of healing.
While anyone undergoing surgery can benefit from prehab, it’s especially crucial for seniors, as age-related muscle loss and slower healing can make recovery more complicated. Prehab helps address these concerns in the weeks before your procedure, helping to ensure you’re in top shape for your surgery.
During prehab, we usually focus on enhancing:
- Strength so standing, walking, and stairs are easier after surgery
- Balance to lower fall risk during recovery
- Mobility to get your joints moving with more ease
- Endurance so you fatigue less during daily tasks
We also offer laser therapy for pain management, to make prehab a little easier.
What Can I Expect From My Prehab Program?
Our physical therapists, chiropractor, and acupuncturist will work with you to create a personalized plan that includes a blend of hands-on care, therapeutic conditioning, and preparation strategies. This might include:
- Acupuncture therapy to reduce pain and enhance sleep quality, which affects healing and energy
- Chiropractic adjustments and joint mobilizations to minimize stiffness and address compensations that may be affecting how you move
- Targeted therapeutic exercises to proactively improve key muscle groups (for example, if you’re having a knee replacement, we’ll focus on conditioning the muscles that support the knee joint)
- Training with mobility aids or other tools you might need after your procedure
- An overview of what to expect during your rehabilitation after the surgery
A Closer Look at Post-Operative Rehabilitation
Surgical interventions can be life-changing for people living with long-term pain or movement restrictions. However, the procedure itself doesn’t automatically restore strength, mobility, or coordination. Furthermore, the body responds to the shock of surgery with swelling, stiffness, and protective guarding that can limit motion and slow progress.
Post-surgical rehabilitation addresses these concerns in a structured, progressive manner so you can:
- Regain safe movement patterns
- Reduce swelling and stiffness
- Prevent loss of strength and endurance
- Improve balance and confidence with walking
- Reduce the risk of long-term complications
What Can I Expect From Post-Surgical Rehabilitation?
Rehab typically moves through phases. Our team works closely with your surgeon to ensure you receive the care you need at every step.
In the initial phase, we focus on protecting the surgical site, controlling swelling and pain, and slowly and safely restoring movement. As you improve, we’ll gradually incorporate more drills and exercises to restore mobility, strength, and function. This might include:
- Progressive strengthening and range-of-motion work
- Balance and gait training to help you slowly move away from using a mobility device
- Functional training to restore movements needed in day-to-day life, such as climbing stairs or reaching overhead
As with prehab, we take a coordinated approach to care. This is especially true for patients who might be juggling several issues at once (such as balance difficulties and nerve irritation).
For example, acupuncture can be especially helpful in the early stage to manage post-surgical pain and inflammation. It also helps address muscle tightness and soreness during strengthening progressions. Chiropractic care can also help alleviate joint pain and mobility restrictions, and it plays an essential role in improving your posture and mechanics as you return to daily activities.
We’re Here Before and After Your Surgery!
If you’re scheduled for surgery, now’s the perfect time to contact REHABILITY NJ to set up a structured pre- and post-operative therapy plan. Our multidisciplinary approach can address movement limitations and pain from multiple angles, all in one convenient location. In fact, most surgeons often recommend a prehab program prior to surgery, for a more optimal recovery afterward.
Contact us today to schedule your appointment. Remember, the earlier you start, the more options you have!
Exercise Of The Month
Heel Slides
- Start by sitting on the floor with both legs extended out in front of you and your back flat.
- Loop a strap around your foot on your injured leg and place a towel under your heel.
- Slowly pull your heel toward your butt by tugging on the strap until you have reached your max comfortable range of motion.
- Slowly allow your heel to slide back out until your leg is straight.
- 3 Sets, 10 Reps. (Materials needed: towel, belt)
Have questions? Don’t hesitate to make an appointment and get them answered!
You Could Be Our Next Success Story!
“I am eternally grateful for what the amazing team at Rehability did to help me get through 2 full years before I could finally have both hips replaced. I came to them with great difficulties walking, plus terrible back pain (sciatica on both sides), knee pain and all of those awful little side-effects one gets to experience when your hips are shut. Because I am a wedding photographer, I couldn’t just drop all the bookings on my calendar to get surgery so, for 2 whole years, I managed to shoot all of my weddings, to satisfaction, because of the weekly treatments I received from these great group of “healers”, if you will. A combination of physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture, and the occasional injection, along with great doses of encouragement, made it all possible. I have nothing but praise for these kind and professional group of people. Thank you for everything.” -MG
Recipe of the Month: Nutty Banana Muffins
Ingredients:
For the crumble:
- 2 tbsps old-fashioned oats
- 2 tbsps sliced almonds
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- pinch of salt
For the batter:
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 1/4 c + 1 tbsp almond flour
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsps baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 1 tbsp nut butter
- 3 large bananas
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a muffin tray with parchment or cupcake liners. Set aside. Mix the crumble ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside. Prep the dry ingredients.
- Whisk together the flour, almond flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the olive oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and nut butter. Whisk together until smooth. Using the paddle attachment, incorporate bananas into the nut butter mixture.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix together just until combined. With a spatula, scrape the bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
- Scoop the batter evenly between the muffin liners. Evenly divide the crumble over the top of the batter in each liner.
- Place filled muffin tray on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove muffins from oven and let cool in the tray for five minutes on a cooling rack.
- Remove muffins from tray and let finish cooling on the rack. Enjoy!
