You may think that if you’re scheduled for joint surgery, you should stop exercising. However, the opposite is true.
A ThedaCare nurse practitioner and physical therapist say you can and should keep exercising right up to your surgery. Just make sure you proceed with proper guidance from your providers.
“Each surgery, individual, and circumstance is different,” says Samantha Burmeister, Nurse Practitioner and Manager of Perioperative Services for ThedaCare. “It’s important to listen to your medical team’s guidance on exercise limitations to prevent further injury.”
Benefits of Remaining Active
Staying moving before a surgery can mean you’ll have a quicker recovery time and fewer complications after surgery, Burmeister says.
Joint replacement surgery is most common among people who have experienced degenerative changes in the joint. Those individuals can modify favorite activities to ease pain. For example, if you’re a runner, you might switch to an elliptical machine or a biking routine, says Madalyn Hurley, a Physical Therapist with ThedaCare.
Normally, experts recommend a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week. If you’re experiencing pain, working out in a pool can take the weight off your joint prior to a surgery and make it easier to keep up a physical routine.
Providers may recommend that prior to surgery, you complete a “pre-habilitation” session with a physical therapist, Burmeister says. You’ll receive exercises that can help improve your strength and learn what limitations you’ll have after surgery.
“The more range of motion you have and the more strength you have prior to surgery, the better your outcomes are afterward,” Hurley says.
Determining the Right Activity Amount
How much you exercise prior to surgery can depend on which joint you’re having replaced, Hurley says. For knees and hips, it’s best to stay as active as possible to maximize flexibility and help build muscle memory. This helps the body to better perform exercises after surgery.
Likewise, strengthening your hips is important for both hip and knee surgery, as the hips provide stability when walking.
For shoulders, it’s key to maintain your range of motion prior to surgery with simple exercises. Those can include sliding your arm up a wall or lying on your back while holding onto a cane or a broomstick with both hands and raising your arms overhead, Hurley says.
After surgery, you’ll talk to your surgeon about recovery times and activity expectations. But overall, continuing to move is important, Burmeister says. Short, frequent movement like walking is especially critical.
“This will not only help prevent stiffness and pain post-surgery, but it will also help prevent blood clots,” she says.
Recovery Time
Recovery times vary great. It depends on factors like the type of surgery you’re having and how much you could move before. A post-op exercise program will you help strengthen and expand the range of motion of your joint.
ThedaCare Medical Center-Orthopedic, Spine and Pain offers a shared space for providers. This offers an easy way for physical and occupational therapists to consult with physicians. The facility also features a large rehabilitation space with exercise equipment, a basketball court, and turf areas to help people get back to the activities they love. Individuals can complete therapy on an outpatient, inpatient, or home-care basis.
“ThedaCare has great physical and occupational therapists to help you with your journey,” Burmeister says. “Your provider can make a recommendation if physical or occupational therapy is a good fit for you.”
