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Going to physical therapy is a great way to help you recover after a major or minor surgery. There are things you can do that will actually improve the effectiveness of physical therapy. To ensure you get the most out of it, try these tips.

Use Therapy at Home

Just because your physical therapy session is over doesn’t mean you have to quit using the techniques you’ve learned when you return home. Using therapy at home can help you continue to improve instead of losing all the progress you made when working with a physical therapist.

Make sure you talk to your therapist about how often you can engage in physical therapy techniques at home. You don’t want to overdo it and cause damage to your body. However, following a safe routine once you return to your house can help your therapy sessions take hold and help you heal.

Follow Post-Surgery Recommendations

The way you approach your post-surgery lifestyle may affect the success rate of your surgery. The guidelines you are given are there to help you recover and protect you from further injury. Failing to follow them can cause all the work you did in physical therapy to be a waste. Though you may feel limited for a while after surgery, do as your doctor and physical therapist tell you in order to ensure proper healing. Physical therapy works by slowly reintroducing your body to certain movements. Pushing yourself too far, too fast can actually make your recovery time longer and result in further problems.

Consider Your Body as a Whole

Physical therapy works best when you treat your entire body well. Make sure you are staying hydrated, eating good food and getting enough rest. When you are eating poorly, it can counteract all the effort you are putting towards your physical therapy. Failure to take care of your entire body through holistic means can compromise your physical therapy results. Find a healthy meal plan that fits your lifestyle and satisfies your needs.

Report Any Problems

Pain is usually a sign that something is wrong. While it’s normal to experience a certain amount of discomfort during and after physical therapy, it’s still important to report it. Your doctor or therapist can determine if it’s normal pain or a problem that needs to be dealt with so that you can recover fully. Don’t push through pain after surgery. Get a professional opinion so that you don’t stall your recovery.

Physical therapy can be a long process. There are ways to make all the work you do in physical therapy more effective in the long term. Make sure to do everything you can to heal properly.