One surgeon advises patients who have undergone surgery to gradually reintroduce movement and exercise. Even small efforts can be beneficial, and it is crucial to pay attention to your body and its limitations.
Dr. Adil Ahmed, an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, emphasized the importance of patient comfort when it comes to exercise after surgery. He explained that many patients may feel apprehensive about moving or engaging in physical activity, fearing that they might hurt or damage the surgical area. Dr. Ahmed believes that pre- and post-operative counseling is necessary to educate patients on what types of physical activity are safe and appropriate, as mobility is essential for recovery.
Ahmed suggests starting with small tasks after surgery. For patients who have had shoulder replacement surgery and are in a sling with limited mobility for four weeks, he recommends moving your fingers, opening and closing your hands, squeezing a stress ball, and flexing and extending the wrist and elbow. These simple exercises can help prevent stiffness and swelling in the joints.
According to Dr. Adil Ahmed, patients should begin with small tasks after surgery. For shoulder replacement patients who have limited mobility for four weeks and are in a sling, gentle rotational motions such as moving fingers, opening and closing hands, squeezing a stress ball, and flexing and extending the wrist and elbow can help prevent joint stiffness and swelling. “In those first four weeks, you’re doing very gentle, rotational motions because you want everything to heal, and then you progress in therapy and remove those restrictions,” he explained in a Baylor news release. Once the motion starts to improve, patients can start strengthening exercises. For those who have their arm in a sling, they can start by doing tasks such as getting out of bed independently, using the bathroom alone, or putting on and taking off clothes and shoes.
As you recover, you can gradually reintroduce physical activity, such as walking with gentle motion. To modify your exercise routine during recovery, focus on the areas that you are able to move instead of being sedentary, recommended Ahmed. For patients who have had a shoulder replacement, use your free arm to hold a broomstick and move it around. You can progressively use heavier sticks to strengthen the other arm.
When recovering from surgery on your wrist or elbow, it’s best to concentrate on your legs and core. According to Ahmed, you can gradually reintroduce your arm exercise into your routine. It’s a good idea to start with basic workouts that use resistance bands. If you’re able to go to the gym and perform some sort of physical activity, even if it’s not your usual routine, it’s better than nothing.
To minimize pain, controlled movements are best. Riding a stationary bike, for example, can elevate your heart rate without putting too much impact on your body. Even if your arm is restricted in a sling, this is an easy workout. Walking is also encouraged after surgery. When you return to the gym, start with light exercises, as recommended by Ahmed.
According to Ahmed, when you return to the gym, it’s important to start slowly and progress gradually. Rather than immediately lifting weights, begin with light bodyweight exercises that are much less intense than your pre-surgery routine. The goal at this stage is not to build strength quickly, but rather to perform movements within the same range of motion parameters as before. It’s essential to avoid powering through pain, which can lead to further injury.
Dr. Ahmed advised using pain as a guide when resuming physical activity after surgery. If a movement or exercise causes pain, it should be considered the upper limit of what is tolerable. It’s important to avoid pushing through the pain. During the recovery period, it’s more crucial to focus on regaining motion rather than strength. Patients typically fall into two categories: those who are overly cautious, which can result in stiffness and a prolonged recovery, and those who are too aggressive and try to do too much too soon.
For patients with fractures involving joints, extra care is necessary as joints may shift, leading to lifelong arthritis. Dr. Ahmed advised patients to ask their surgeons several questions, including whether it’s safe to move, whether there are any restrictions on movement, and whether weight bearing, pushing, pulling or lifting items is allowed.
Dr. Ahmed emphasized the importance of patients asking their surgeons a range of questions such as whether they need to wear a sling constantly or can take it off for a period of time, when they should start therapy, and whether they should do basic home exercises. He stated that he always tries to provide patients with this information, but it’s crucial to ask these questions after any type of surgery, not just for extremities.
Source: HealthDay