Pre-Surgical Physical Therapy
Pre-surgical physical therapy, often called pre-hab, gets your body stronger and more mobile before an operation so you start recovery from a better place. Many patients find that going into surgery fit and informed helps their recovery. Western Slope Rehab and Performance offers pre-hab in Grand Junction and the surrounding Grand Valley: Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands.
You have more say in your recovery than you think
How strong and healthy you are before surgery plays a big part in how you feel after it. Pre-hab is short for preventative rehabilitation: working with a physical therapist before the procedure to improve strength, range of motion and movement patterns in and around the area being operated on.
Facing surgery can be stressful, and most people have worries. A pre-hab plan gives you something concrete to do about it.
What pre-hab can do for you
Ease the pain you have now
Your therapist can use exercise and massage to help calm current aches while you wait for your surgery date.
Build strength you will need
Strong muscles going in means less weakness afterward and an easier path back to your routine.
Support your health overall
Better strength and endurance improve general fitness, which supports your body through a big operation.
Teach you the moves in advance
You learn the exercises and movement habits you will use during recovery, so they are familiar when you need them.
Who benefits from pre-hab
Joint replacement
Knee and hip replacement patients tend to feel more confident when they start strong. See Arthritis & Joint Pain.
Ligament and tendon repair
ACL, meniscus and rotator cuff surgery all ask a lot of the surrounding muscles.
Back and spine surgery
Core and leg strength matter for a spine procedure. See Back Pain.
What pre-hab sessions look like
We assess your strength, range of motion and how you move, then design a training routine for you to follow right up to surgery and through recovery. Sessions combine Therapeutic Exercise and, when it fits, Manual Therapy. We also talk through the surgery and what the first weeks will be like.
- Strength and flexibility work for the muscles around the surgical site
- Practice with walking aids or movement techniques you will need afterward
- Education about the surgery and the road to recovery
Questions people ask before surgery
How soon should I start?
As soon as you know surgery is coming. The more time you have, the more you can build.
Could pre-hab change whether I need surgery?
Sometimes pain and function improve enough that people talk with their doctor about their options. That is a decision for you and your doctor, and we will not tell you to skip a recommended operation.
Do I need a referral?
You can start physical therapy without a referral from a doctor in most cases. Some plans, including Medicare, still need a doctor's sign-off. See Direct Access.
Then we are here for the other side too
Starting pre-hab with us means your therapist already knows your body when it is time for rehab. See Post-Surgical Rehab for what recovery looks like. If you are weighing surgery for a painful joint, our Arthritis & Joint Pain page covers what exercise can do.
Get ready for surgery in Grand Junction
We prepare patients from Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands. Starting early gives you the most time. You can begin physical therapy without a referral from a doctor in most cases. Some insurance plans, including Medicare, still need a doctor's sign-off on the plan of care (Direct Access). Call (970) 314-9822 and we will check your plan.
We see patients from Grand Junction and the surrounding Grand Valley: Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands.