Return to the Pre-Injury ‘You’ With Our Orthopedic Clinical Specialists

Surgery is always a big deal and is generally only recommended when non-operative treatments and therapies are no longer seen as viable ways to return to pre-injury mobility. Yet, if you are about to undergo or have undergone an operation on the hip, shoulder, knee, wrist, hand, neck, foot, ankle, spine or any other part of the musculoskeletal system, the surgery is but a very important step in the process that will restore you to your pre-injury self. The far longer bit that takes you from the moment in which the anesthesia wears off to you finally jogging, mountain biking or playing soccer like the pre-injury you again is the absolutely essential post-operative rehabilitation program through which your Mount Sinai Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) will guide you. 

After surgery, your ability to regain normal motion, strength and to return to your pre-injury self, is dependent on the restorative orthopedic rehabilitation plan your OCS will devise for you. Orthopedic rehabilitation will bring you through a range of exercises to strengthen the muscles around the affected joint(s). Strong muscles are not only necessary so your body functions as it once did, but they will lower the risk of the once-injured joint re-injuring or dislocating itself by protecting it and absorbing any force that might occur during physical activity. Orthopedic rehabilitation will also improve circulation and flexibility to the affected areas to aid and hasten the healing process, prevent the appearance of blood clots and to gradually increase your range of motion to its pre-injury level.

Your Mount Sinai OCS is your post-operative guide to returning to the pre-injury ‘you’. An OCS is specifically trained to restore your strength and range of motion without compensation and to help prevent re-injury during the recovery process. When you are working with an OCS, you are under the expert care of the most qualified and experienced physical therapists available. All OCSs are recognized by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists as clinicians with the highest levels of expertise and specialization in orthopedic physical therapy. What is more, to attain the celebrated distinction of OCS, a therapist must have a minimum of 2,000 hours of direct patient care in the area of orthopedics. 

Among the first people you will see when you wake up from your surgery will be your OCS who will first give you a thorough evaluation and then set you a structured post-operative physical therapy plan to minimize pain and swelling and to restore normal movement, flexibility and function as soon as possible. Your first session with your OCS will likely be in your hospital bed or in a chair. As you heal and progress, the exercises will become more dynamic and might include a medley of ankle pumps, squats, flexions, abductions, rotations, extensions, contractions, bends, raising exercises and stretching. As you move toward a full recovery, your OCS might recommend swimming or pool exercises, cycling or even low impact activities like golf and dancing. Sports like basketball, soccer, football and others that require high impact movements – as well as weight training – should be avoided until your OCS gives you the go-ahead. 

Are you interested in what your recovery from orthopedicsurgery might look like? Do you have any questions about our Orthopedic Clinical Specialists and their transformative rehabilitation programs? Please get in touch with us at (212) 241-6321.