Post-Operative Rehabilitation
At Glebe Physio, we have physiotherapists and exercise physiologists that can help you recover from a recent operation with specific rehab programs that are effective in maximizing your recovery in a timely manner. If you have had orthopaedic surgery such as an ACL reconstruction, knee or hip replacement or ORIF (metal fixation after fracture), our physiotherapists can help you regain full strength, range of motion and fitness to allow you to return to the activities you enjoy or the sport you play. If you have had a major abdominal surgery or cardiac procedure, our exercise physiologists can guide you through a safe and effective exercise rehabilitation program to restore your full fitness and quality of life.
Physiotherapy after Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic surgery involves an operation by a specialist doctor to repair bones, ligaments and/or muscles. These types of surgery can be elective (when you plan in advance to have the surgery done) or emergency, as a result of trauma or unexpected injuries. When any kind of orthopaedic surgery is done, there will be some loss of strength and joint movement in the area and a physiotherapist is expertly placed to assist with rehabilitation.
Examples of elective surgery include ACL reconstruction or other ligament reconstruction surgery, knee and hip replacements, shoulder stabilisation after shoulder dislocation, and rotator cuff repairs. In the case of elective surgery where you have a planned date for the operation, there is strong research to support “pre-habilitation”, which is pre-operative exercise to improve your post-operative outcome. This involves a program of exercises that are specific to the planned operation, such as joint range of motion exercises, strength and mobility training, balance exercises and general fitness. The pre-habilitation program prepares the affected joint and the rest of the body for surgery and makes the post-operative rehabilitation significantly quicker and easier.
Emergency trauma surgery is usually required when you have a particularly bad broken bone that is at risk of not healing properly. The surgeon may put in screws and plates to keep the broken bones together and then you’ll generally be in a cast, boot or brace for 6 weeks or more to help the bone set. When you come out of this immobilisation, the affected body part will havesignificant strength and range of motion deficits that affect its function. Physiotherapyrehabilitation involves graded programs of specific exercises that help to safely and effectively restore full movement, strength and function to the operated area.
Exercise Physiology after Other Types of Surgery
Aside from orthopaedic surgery, there are many other operations that also benefit from post-operative rehabilitation. Major abdominal operations, together with the associated time spent in bed, are commonly associated with significant losses of strength and fitness that can affect a person’s quality of life for a long time. After discharge from hospital, patients are rarely given any specific instructions on how to regain their lost fitness. Our exercise physiologists can help to guide you through a safe and effective rehabilitation program that can restore your full exercise capacity and return you to the activities you enjoy most.
Cardiac surgery is another category of operation where post-operative exercise is vital. After cardiac surgery (such as bypass, valve replacement, angioplasty and stent procedures), patients will often attend “cardiac rehab”, which is supervised exercise at a hospital or rehab facility for 6-12 weeks. After this, patients are often discharged and asked to continue the exercises on their own. At Glebe Physio, we have exercise physiologists who are trained in rehabilitation after cardiac procedures and can assist you with long-term exercise programs to help you regain your strength and fitness and establish a safe, enjoyable exercise program for life.At your first physiotherapy appointment, you will be asked to arrive 10 minutes ahead of the appointment time to complete a short form about your injury. If you have any paperwork related to your injury, please bring this with you. This may include scans, reports, previous treatment, doctor’s letters etc.
Do I need a referral to make an appointment?
No. Physiotherapists have been first-contact, primary healthcare professionals in Australia since 1976. That means that you can book a physiotherapist appointment without seeing your doctor first. Many of our patients are referred from GPs and specialists but many choose to see us themselves.
How much does an appointment cost?
For our latest pricing, please see our fees page.
Do you accept private health insurance?
Physiotherapy is covered by private health funds as part of “extras” cover and we have HICAPS facilities to charge your health fund on the day of the appointment. The amount that your private health fund pays will depend on your policy.
Is physiotherapy covered by Medicare?
Physiotherapy is generally not covered by Medicare but you can get part funding from Medicare through a Chronic Disease Management Plan if your GP refers you with one of these.
Our physiotherapists are highly experienced
in rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgery.
If you would like to ask one of us a question visit our contact us page to get in touch.
If you have had an operation or have one planned in the future, visit our make a booking page to schedule an appointment.
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For more, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
If you would like to ask a question about our services or anything else, visit our Contact Us page to get in touch.
If you are ready to make an appointment, visit our make a booking page and let us help you with your fitness or recovery.