Why should I see a physio before surgery?

Preparing for surgery can be a stressful and vulnerable time for people and their families. Surgeries such as hip and knee replacements and spinal surgeries, while often life changing, are massive undertakings with a lengthy recovery process. Therefore, it is important that you are well informed about the surgery itself, the initial days following the surgery and what to expect during your hospital stay and what the weeks and months after surgery might look like for you.

We often see people a few weeks before their surgery. This provides the patient an opportunity to ask any questions they have surrounding the surgery and the recovery process. We will sit down with you, listen to your concerns, hopes, fears, goals and advise and educate you on the areas that matter to you. We will also advise you on continuing to engage in your meaningful activities which may include exercise, either general or specific so that you are as fit and conditioned as possible prior to undergoing surgery. Being fitter and stronger before surgery will improve the efficiency of your recovery.

As Chartered Physiotherapists, we have experience in the management of inpatient post-operative cases, meaning we know what the hours after surgery will look like for you and what post-operative physiotherapy looks like. We will take you through the most common post-operative exercises, so that you are one step ahead! This will give you and your hospital physio more time to focus on specific issues that are important to you.

Knowledge is power…In our experience, patients that know what to expect from surgery and what the recovery process entails tend to do much better than people who go blindly into the surgery.