Recovery from orthopedic surgery, such as a joint replacement, can be long and frustrating, especially for active individuals. You might be afraid of injury or slowing down your recovery, but there are safe ways to stay active when you are rehabbing following orthopedic surgery. Here are some tips from our fitness specialist, Ashley Ching:
Listen to your healthcare team
Your physical therapist will provide guidelines for exercise and activity levels. Follow their recommendations for the best recovery outcome.
Keep moving
Whatever you do, don’t become a couch potato! Even if you can only take a slow walk or do some light stretching, any movement is better than none at all.
Do one-sided exercises
Recent evidence suggests that when people with an injured limb perform exercises on the healthy side of the body, they lose less strength on the injured side. For example, if you injure your left shoulder, you should continue to do single-arm exercises on the right side.
Get creative and try new things
You may not be able to participate in your favorite type of exercise or activity immediately after surgery. This is a great opportunity to try something new that doesn’t involve the injured part of the body. You can also get creative and modify certain exercises in the gym with the help of your personal trainer!
Focus on what you CAN do
It can be easy to feel discouraged that you are unable to do your favorite type of exercise or even everyday living. Each week in recovery, try to celebrate something new that you are able to do that you could not do the week before.
Gradually build intensity
Once you are cleared to exercise don’t immediately jump back in at the intensity you were prior to surgery. You will likely need to start with lighter weights or fewer reps as you rebuild your strength and endurance.
Remaining active while recovering from orthopedic surgery can be challenging, but the team of professionals at Body Dynamics are here to support you every step of the way.
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