If you're undergoing major surgery in the near future, your surgeon may have mentioned that you need physical therapy after the surgery. In the case of big surgeries, such as knee replacement, hip replacement, shoulder replacement, or any type of surgery to help fix a joint, physical therapy is almost always recommended during the recovery period. Depending on the type of surgery you're having, physical therapy may begin in the hospital before you are discharged. However, after you leave the hospital, it will be up to you to attend all scheduled physical therapy sessions. Some of the reasons that physical therapy is very important after surgery include the following. 

Regain Strength

Many people do not realize that a severe injury and undergoing a surgery can have a huge effect on the strength of the part of the body that was operated on as well as the whole body. Physical therapy should not be looked at as a chore — it should be seen as an opportunity to have a professional assist you regain strength and assist you in ensuring that you can resume day-to-day tasks and chores without any issues.

Improve Range of Motion

After you have undergone a major surgery, it is normal to look for the light at the end of the tunnel and be excited for a full recovery. However, there are many surgeries that people just don't recover from and automatically go back to normal. In most cases, people who have major surgery need physical therapy to help improve their range of motion. Whether you have had shoulder surgery, knee surgery, or back surgery, a good physical therapist will have the skills and expertise needed to assist you during each session so you can get back to normal and live a normal life that includes all of the activities that you do on a day-to-day basis.

Timely Recovery

Most people want to recover as quickly as possible after surgery. For a lot of people, physical therapy is a necessary part of their recovery plan, post-surgery. If you have recently had surgery or have a surgery scheduled in the near future, working hard in physical therapy is your best bet. Slacking off and skipping physical therapy sessions or not doing your assigned exercises at home will just make things worse. Fully participating in physical therapy after a surgery will help make your recovery period go by quicker.

For more information, reach out to a professional who offers post-surgery physical therapy services.