Arm Surgery Rehab

AT EVOLVE

Physical Therapy for Arm Surgery Rehab

HOW CAN PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP ME RECOVER FROM ARM SURGERY?

Physical therapists play an important role in post-surgical rehabilitation of the arm. Following a surgery to the upper or lower arm, your arm will need to undergo a period of recovery prior to returning to full activities. Except in the case of minor procedures, physical therapy is often recommended following a surgery to help the patient recover fully. Physical therapy helps promote healing of the surgical area and return to full function through the use of manual therapy techniques, therapeutic exercises, neuromuscular re-education and more.

WHAT DOES PHYSICAL THERAPY FOLLOWING AN ARM SURGERY LOOK LIKE?

My team of physical therapists and I will help you recover from arm surgery. In the beginning your PT will work on reducing swelling in the arm, teach you how to protect the area and initiate return of muscle function and range of motion around the arm. As recovery progresses you will continue through a series of exercises to increase range of motion, improve strength and neuromuscular control, regain normal movement and then progress to sport-specific or high impact activities like throwing, push ups or lifting heavy objects. Usually this consists of 2-3 visits per week with your therapist as well as a series of exercises or other activities you will perform at home between visits. The frequency of visits often decreases near the end of your rehabilitation program.

HOW LONG WILL I NEED PHYSICAL THERAPY?

The duration of your physical therapy plan of care will vary depending on the type of surgery you had and any additional impairments that also need to be addressed. While full resolution of symptoms can take some time, you may begin to see some results right away. You should experience improvements in many symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and inflammation within a couple of weeks. Progression in strength, flexibility and overall mobility that allows you to stand and walk more comfortably, may take longer. Achieving long lasting results may take some time, but dedication to your program will help you achieve these results. Your PT will be able to give you a more specific timeline for recovery after your surgery and as you move through the rehabilitation process.

Request Appointment!

COMMON ARM SURGERIES?

As you know, the arm consists of the shoulder, the elbow, the wrist, and some might say, the hand, along with all the areas in between. An injury or impairment in any part of the arm can make performing your daily tasks very difficult. The shoulder, elbow, forearm and wrist are all essential for positioning the hand in space so that you can push, pull and lift everything you need. Sometimes surgery for the arm is an emergency, such as after a fracture or a dislocation but oftentimes surgery will occur after a period of unsuccessful conservative, nonsurgical management. Symptoms in the arm that may lead to consideration of surgical management are as follows:

Severe or chronic pain
Numbness or tingling
Muscle atrophy
Muscle weakness
Inability to perform daily tasks
Instability
Fracture

Given how many bones, joints, ligaments and muscles there are in the arm, there are many different injuries or conditions that may lead to a surgery. Here is a list of just some of the many different surgeries on the arm that require or could benefit from physical therapy during the post-surgery recovery period:

Rotator cuff repair.
Total shoulder replacement.
Arthroscopy for frozen shoulder.
Acromioclavicular joint repair for arthritis.
Surgery for shoulder impingement syndrome.
Biceps tendon repair
Ulnar nerve decompression
Total elbow replacement
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction
Fracture repair
Carpal tunnel surgery
Tendon repair
Dupuytren's Contracture Release
Trigger Finger release
Arthroscopic Debridement

Call to Schedule a Consultation! 1-718-258-3300

End Injury Progression

Physical therapy for arm surgery rehab has proven to prevent injury, slow and even stop pain issues, improve performance, and reverse injury progression in many cases.

**Relieve Pain**
The movements used in this technique can target your entire body helping you to manage discomfort and pain during the course of your physical therapy treatments.

**Improve Range of Motion**
Posture awareness is an important area to focus on due to the fact that certain positions may cause you further discomfort and pain.

**Restore Mobility**
You can regain mobility and flexibility by taking part in the stretches and exercises as prescribed by your physical therapist.

How Long Will Arm Surgery Rehab Physical Therapy Treatments Last?

If you decide to work with a physical therapist to help with arm surgery rehab, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20+ different physical therapy sessions that will each last 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your PT sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM PHYSICAL THERAPY AFTER SURGERY?

The exact progression of your recovery will depend on the type of surgery you had. Some surgeries will require a period of immobilization of the arm to allow tissues to heal sufficiently before any stress is applied to them. During this time your therapist may have you work on adjacent areas of the body to prevent atrophy in multiple places. Other surgeries will benefit from a more active recovery approach right away. Right after your surgery your physical therapist may use modalities, manual therapy techniques or gentle passive range of motion to address pain and inflammation and to preserve motion. As you progress through your recovery and the surgical site is allowed to undergo more stress, your program will likely include some of the following types of treatment in order to achieve your maximal level of function:

Strengthening:Restoring strength and endurance to the muscles around the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand is an important part of post-surgical rehabilitation. It will reduce the risk of re-injury and help you return to your prior level of function.

Stretching: Stretching is often needed after a surgery to restore normal joint motion and muscle length but needs to be done carefully to prevent disruption of the healing process.

Neuromuscular Re-education: This type of treatment is used to improve the motor control and coordination of muscles in the arm so that the arm functions well during both daily tasks and higher impact activities like athletics.

Sport-specific Tasks: For athletes returning to sport, sport-specific exercises will be incorporated later on in your rehabilitation to prepare the arm for the demands of returning to play. This might include throwing, pushing and lifting type exercises.

CALL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY!

Having any type of surgery can feel daunting but my team of physical therapists and I are here to help make that process as smooth as possible. Call Evolve today to get started on your recovery from arm surgery.