Post Surgery Success

Posted 7 January 2019 in Injury

After surgery prescribed exercises are given by a physiotherapist to improve a patient’s mobility and strength, which gives them every chance of a successful recovery. A huge emphasis is placed on patients too regularly complete their exercises, whether that is at home, work or at the gym. However this seems not to be the case, as more and more are putting their recovery at risk and failing to meet the recommended dosage of exercises. Some are also doing nothing. So what does influence ones compliance with exercise?

– Initial compliance is high due to loyalty to the therapists and a fear of letting them down.

– Continued compliance was associated with the patient and their ability and willingness to accommodate there completion by
o Feel they have the ability to complete everyday activities
o They see exercising everyday as a positive and can see its benefits
o Perceived severity of their symptoms- the worse they are the less likely to complete
o Attitude towards their injury and other co-morbidities
o Previous experience with recovery
o Knowledge about their injury

– A necessity for continued compliance was that the rehabilitation program was effective in
removing unwanted symptoms and that some improvements were evident and being made

Due to a patient’s busy lifestyle and thought processes, it is becoming more evident that rehabilitation programs are not being completed or by the right professionals. Many patients/ individuals prefer exercising under supervision, a common example is the significant increase in the use of personal trainers over the last five years, it is now not uncommon for patients/individuals to see their personal trainer 2,3,4 times a week to work on weight loss, strength, mobility and even injury management. It is clear that trainers don’t have in-depth knowledge, objective measurements as what physiotherapists do when overcoming injuries. It is important the right objective markers are used to help you get the best outcome possible.

G. Cook, 2010, Functional Movement Systems: Screening, Assessment, Corrective Strategies