POST SURGICAL CARE

Our philosophy at The Rejuvenation Center is to provide each patient and their family with the best possible post surgical or post injury care available. Regardless of whether of not your injury requires surgical care, we have developed a post injury rehab program that is second to none.

After an injury or illness that will require surgical intervention, many patients undergo a period of treatment in preparation for the operative procedure. Many physicians support pre-surgical conditioning and training on assistive devices. Once your surgery has been performed, your custom fit assistive device is ready and waiting and you won’t have to go through the measurement process when you are much less comfortable in those first post-surgical days. With a pre-conditioning program, you will be able to regain your strength more rapidly and begin your post-surgical exercises immediately, having already been trained by our staff before your surgery. This will allow you to return to your normal daily activities more rapidly and independently.

Physical therapists provide rehabilitation for numerous types of post-surgical needs. This may include recovery and restoration of function after illnesses, injuries, fractures, arthritis related disabilities, spinal, neck and disc disorders, sports injuries, worker compensation injuries, joint or extremity repairs of the hand, shoulder, arm, ankle, foot, knee, hip or leg. We will build preventative and strengthening programs to enhance your recovery beyond what will happen with only natural healing.

We provide specialized treatment for patients of all ages who have experienced total joint replacement, acute or chronic pain after surgeries for any of the reasons noted above, sports related injuries (both acute and chronic), musculo-skeletal injuries, and automobile injuries.

If you have experienced surgery in the past that may have required an extended period of convalescence, you may be experiencing pain for other reasons. Our specialized team has advanced training in correcting the secondary effects which may include postural dysfunctions, muscle imbalances and tightness, ergonomic problems, myofascial pain, and repetitive strain injuries (RSI).

After completing a thorough and comprehensive evaluation to identify the source and severity of your pain or dysfunction, our physical therapy team will design an individualized treatment program specifically for your needs. This programs may involve a variety of treatment options and modalities. Goals will be set to enable the patient to resume normal activities at home, work and play as soon as possible.

We believe it is important that the patient, and their families if available, actively participate in the development of individual goals for physical therapy. Your team and family must agree together about the plan of care. A comprehensive treatment plan is established to relieve pain, increase blood flow to the involved region, maximize wound care, facilitate early mobilization, regain normal range of motion, develop initial strengthening, develop improved balance and progress to overall conditioning. The entire staff is also focused on providing positive cognitive input and emotional support during your rehabilitation process. We will strive together to restore our patient to their highest level of function, maximal independence with daily activities in their home, reintegration into the community, returning to work within recommended restrictions and personal recreational pursuits. We also endeavor to provide comprehensive patient and family education imperative to the long term success of all clinical programs. We recognize that every patient has unique needs for their recovery that not only involve the physical aspect but also the needs of their families, their workplace requirements, and their emotional and spiritual lives as well. All of these aspects of our lives necessitate specific treatment goals and approaches to obtain the maximum benefit from the therapy program.

The Rejuvenation Center has a treatment philosophy which stresses active participation of the patient. The success of your rehabilitation program relies heavily upon your willingness and ability to do some activities beyond your regularly scheduled appointments to optimize your rehabilitation process. You will be strongly advised to perform exercises, stretches, static and/or dynamic ergonomic modifications, and the application of ice or heat. Please be prepared to actively participate in your treatment. We will help you to modify your program to the best of our abilities balancing your goals for therapy with the space, time and equipment needed within your personal home and work environments.

Our highly trained team of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants has expertise in a variety of specialty areas, including athletic training, strength and conditioning specialties, postural and biomechanical correction, aquatic therapy, manual/soft tissue techniques and ergonomics. Their proficiency in establishing a rehab program utilizing aquatic/whirlpool therapy, aqua scar massage, the finest specialized line of core strengthening equipment, ultrasound and electric stimulation delivers to each patient a quicker and more satisfying recovery.

Your individualized therapy program may follow specific protocols recommended by your surgeon. If not, our team will develop an individualized treatment plan that is based upon the findings in your initial evaluation to meet your goals as noted previously. We will design and implement a program that will combine hands-on treatment, instruction in therapeutic exercise and, if needed, the use of therapeutic modalities and devices to provide the most effective program possible.

Our clinic offers private treatment rooms and a spacious rehabilitation gym. Initially, modalities are used to reduce pain and swelling in order to improve circulation and muscle performance. These may include moist heat, cold and compressive ice machines with attachments for the spine and extremities, electrical stimulation including TENS and interferential current, ultrasound or phonophoresis, iontophoresis, Hakomed horizontal therapy, and diathermy. We may also recommend soft tissue and myofascial manual therapy techniques to assist with scar modification, control of swelling and restoration of function. Your program will then advance to the instruction of a therapeutic home exercise program in conjunction with hydrotherapy if indicated. Therapeutic warm-water pools can provide a bridge from pain relief to initiation of exercise with the assistance of or using the water as a source of resistance. Therapeutic pools can also further assist with reduction of swelling and pain, facilitate initial movement restoration, advance strength and flexibility training and provide for minimal joint loading and impact stressors via the principle of buoyancy during conditioning activities to the legs and spine. Your therapeutic exercise program, whether in the pool, on land or both will include specified rehabilitation home exercises, preventive education, proprioception training, flexibility training, neuro-muscular reeducation, biomechanical repositioning and training, manual resisted exercise, proprioceptive neuro-muscular facilitation (PNF), muscle energy techniques, and joint mobilization.

Once your therapeutic process has progressed beyond pain control, you will be able to participate in more advanced therapies. We have the finest state-of-the-art equipment in the area to enhance your rehabilitation experience in a friendly, warm, spacious atmosphere as you work closely with our staff members. These include the DRX 9000 (lumbar decompression), DRX9500 (cervical decompression), MED-X core strengthening program, BTE multi-cervical unit, Cybex treadmill, Cybex arc trainer, hydromassage equipment, Swiss exercise balls in various sizes, and free weights.

Once you have completed your formalized recovery program, you will find that your body continues to heal over a long period of time. The health care industry has a tendency to force premature discharge due to reductions in insurance visit or dollar amount limitations. This often happens when a patient is only 50-75 percent recovered, leaving a gap between finishing formal physical therapy in a clinical setting and full recovery. Our desire is to continue to support you as consultants on an as needed basis so that you do not feel abandoned by the health care system. We attempt to ease this gap with our Post Discharge Program. We strongly encourage patients to continue their rehabilitation by continuing their independent programs at our facility for a monthly fee that is a fraction of the cost of regular health care expenses. Some insurance companies may even cover this as a “gym membership” with a prescription from a doctor. Through this program, we are able to continue to closely monitor your ongoing progress in your program including your pool activities, exercise programs and equipment use. We can ultimately help you to achieve longer lasting results and reduced healthcare costs. Our open-gym is available during the hours of 6 A.M. to 6:45 P.M. We offer convenient appointment times for both your formal therapy sessions, pool sessions and open gym times, including early morning and evening hours.

Throughout the entire process, we provide ongoing communication with the physician of your choice regarding the findings of your initial evaluation, your progress in therapy, and recommendations for continued care or discharge as appropriate.