Should You Take A Dip After Outpatient Surgery?
Doctors perform thousands of outpatient procedures daily. The procedure uses minimally invasive tools to diagnose conditions, repair ligaments, replace joints, or stabilize fractures. The primary benefit of outpatient surgery is allowing patients to return home shortly after the procedure, minimizing hospital stays, and promoting faster recovery. For all outpatient procedures, rehabilitation, lasting several weeks or months, is necessary for healing and a return to daily activities. Physical therapy and specific exercises are the go-to methods. Swimming is an often overlooked yet highly effective form of rehabilitation. Taking a weekly dip, with a physical therapist’s guidance, may reduce pain and accelerate healing after outpatient surgery.
The healing power of water
Water has long been recognized for having amazing therapeutic benefits. The buoyancy of water reduces stress on joints and muscles, creating an environment for low-impact exercise. For post-surgery patients, this means less strain on healing tissues while still engaging in movement that promotes circulation and flexibility. There has recently been a rise in cold water immersion to reduce inflammation and boost recovery before or after resistance exercise. Strategies like aqua therapy and aqua aerobics have long been included in physical therapy regimens to help build muscle, restore mobility, and reduce strain on joints. Swimming, on the other hand, can be more intensive but can support therapy allowing patients to move more effectively than on land.
How swimming may help with recovery
Outpatient surgery can be difficult to navigate, especially within the first weeks post-operation. The patient must manage wounds and begin gentle movement to improve circulation and reduce muscle wastage. However, the high impact of moving, even walking, can be harmful to post-operative patients. Patients still need active movement and muscle building while minimizing the risk of re-injury. Swimming offers a unique combination of cardiovascular exercise and resistance training, which are crucial for recovery. The water’s natural resistance helps strengthen muscles without heavy weights. The gentle motion of swimming improves range of motion and reduces stiffness. Additionally, the hydrostatic pressure of water can help reduce swelling, a common post-surgery issue. Improved blood flow from swimming also delivers essential nutrients to healing tissues, speeding up recovery.
Don’t just dive in
While swimming is effective, some significant guardrails are necessary for success. Outpatient surgery does not mean the patient is free and clear to participate in rigorous activities. Swimming, by definition, is intensive, requiring the entire body for best results. The patient should start slowly, with short sessions of 10-15 minutes, and gradually increase the duration over time. Consider working with a physical therapist specializing in aquatic therapy to create a personalized program. Furthermore, the ideal patient should already know how to swim, which minimizes the risk of injury from flailing. Make sure swimming is part of a broader recovery plan that includes rest, proper nutrition, and other forms of physical therapy.
Accelerate healing with a splash after outpatient surgery
Outpatient surgery has some fantastic benefits, including small incisions, fewer scars, and less post-operative pain. Patients also leave the same day to recover at home, but there is still a long road ahead with rehabilitation. Regardless of the ailment and procedure, strategies like physical therapy are necessary. Swimming can improve the recovery of many orthopedic surgeries. Water has therapeutic properties and can help boost healing, reduce pain, and improve mobility. Consider adding swimming to a long-term protocol, but speak with healthcare professionals first. Swimming makes waves for a pain-free future.
