Physical Therapy Can Help if Your Surgery Has Been Postponed Due to COVID-19

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the United States, many hospitals and surgery centers are postponing elective surgeries. It’s one of many economic and physical hardships of the pandemic; patients are not getting surgeries they need to relieve musculoskeletal pain and hospitals face decreasing revenue by not hosting the surgery.

When we think of people needing surgery to deal with daily pain, we typically think of someone older, or with an injury due to repetitive daily strain. While older individuals and those affected by overuse injuries certainly make up a large percentage of those needing elective surgery, many others do as well.

For example, student athletes, esports players, and corporate workers are all groups that may need elective surgery. Just as we don’t normally think of these groups as needing elective surgery, they likely don’t think of themselves as individuals who could benefit from a dedicated and structured physical therapy routine, but they can.

Regardless of the group you fall into, there is hope for patients dealing with pain and limited mobility. If your surgery procedure keeps getting postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19, physical therapy can help reduce pain, increase mobility, take back your way of life, and even improve your outcome when you do have surgery.

Prehabilitation Physical Therapy for Surgery

Prehabilitation physical therapy is for individuals awaiting surgery. There are many goals of prehabilitation physical therapy, but one is to set realistic goals post-surgery. This way, an individual can set and manage expectations. The other goals include:

• Maintain or restore range of motion
• Decrease inflammation and reduction in pain
• Increase strength for post-surgical recovery

Working with a physical therapist while your surgery is postponed has many benefits. For one, they can ensure your recovery is fast-tracked once you complete your procedure. In the meantime however, they can decrease your daily level of pain, increase range of motion and function, address strength and flexibility issues, and more.

Telehealth Physical Therapy is an Option While You Wait

Telehealth physical therapy is a suitable prehabilitation plan while you await your elected procedure. With Agile Virtual PT, you can schedule an appointment with a licensed physical therapist and never leave your home for a consultation or appointment. Agile lets you speak to the same physical therapist every session as they take you through a dedicated program just for you. There are no wearables and all you need is your smartphone of laptop!

Don’t let COVID-19 keep you from meeting your goals of a pain-free life. Schedule an appointment with Agile Virtual PT today.