Injuries, surgeries, and physical limitations due to aging or underlying health problems can all require physical rehabilitation to restore the body to optimal shape and function. At Pace Physical Therapy in San Jose, California, we specialize in post-operative rehabilitation and recovery therapies. Our physical therapists are experts in sports injuries and orthopedic rehabilitation and are specially qualified to help you get back on track and maximize performance levels after an injury. The rehabilitation process typically consists of four broad phases. The first phase is managing pain and swelling.
This is important to minimize muscle loss and strength deficits, which are common after an injury or surgery. Soft tissue and gentle range-of-motion exercises are used to relax the body so that it returns to the range of motion (ROM) levels before the injury, or as close as possible. Small weights can be used during exercises if it is safe to do so, but more intensive strength training is not recommended at this time. The next phase is regaining strength. Resting during the recovery phase can cause muscle atrophy or wear and tear that causes weakness and loss of strength.
In the strength phase, the goal is to minimize these losses and recover levels of muscle strength and endurance prior to injury, together with cardiovascular endurance. With the use of weight machines, strength training can be performed safely and accurately and, at the same time, reduce the risk of aggravating injuries or running the risk of suffering new ones. The third phase is protection and discharge. It is important to protect the affected area so that it does not suffer further damage. Take the example of a fracture, a muscle tear, or a ligament injury, all of which will require some level of protection to protect them in the early stages.
Protection not only prevents the injury from getting worse, but it also promotes an internal environment to support healing. The fourth phase is restoring coordination and balance, improving speed, agility, and advancing from basic to complex sports-specific skills. This injury rehabilitation phase can include restoring coordination and balance, improving speed, agility and sport-specific abilities, moving from simple to complex. Your injury and rehabilitation process will take much longer without efficient care, following an established set of processes and exercises. If you have suffered an injury or undergone certain types of surgery, physical rehabilitation may be necessary for a successful recovery. At Pace Physical Therapy in San Jose, California, we have established the recommended steps for good rehabilitation so that you can get on the path to the best possible recovery.
