Physical Therapy Protocols
Please note - these protocols are general guidelines that should be followed for most patients; however, additional written and/or verbal instructions/precautions may be provided by Dr. Frank on a patient-specific basis depending on the surgery performed.
Preparing for Surgery
Having major surgery is like running a marathon – both challenges require training, physical conditioning and stamina, experts say. That's why doctors and hospitals are prescribing prehabilitation – basically rehabilitation performed before a surgical procedure, be it joint replacement, cardiac, transplant, colorectal or cancer surgery.
The goal? To help patients get stronger, fitter and more functional ahead of treatment – chemotherapy and radiation included, says Dr. Julie Silver, a physician and researcher at Harvard Medical School and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Prehab can encompass exercise or physical therapy (on land or in water), dietary changes and smoking cessation. It can also include fortifying mental strength through psychological interventions, she explains.
