The use of aquatic therapy in post-operative rehabilitation

Hydrotherapy and aquatic therapy has been proven to be an effective part of your rehabilitation following surgery. It is commonly recommended following a number of surgical procedures including hip and knee replacements, Achilles tendon repairs and foot or ankle surgery.

Doing hydrotherapy results in reduced pain, reduced swelling and improved strength in the early stages of following surgery. These improvements can greatly assist your recovery and fast track rehabilitation.

Our team of physiotherapists at ME Physio offer hydrotherapy and aquatic physiotherapy at Harold Holt Swim Centre.

When can I start hydrotherapy after surgery?

Hydrotherapy is recommended once the surgical wounds have started to heal sufficiently to reduce the likelihood of infection. Depending on the nature of your surgery and approach to your surgery, this timeframe can vary. These timeframes vary from 2 – 6 weeks.

Arthroscopic surgery is minimally invasive and has smaller wounds which heal faster. Joint replacement surgery including hip or knee replacements traditionally have much larger and invasive wounds which take longer to heal prior to being able to enter the water.

Your surgeon will provide an indication at your surgical post-operative follow up appointments.

How does hydrotherapy work?

Hydrotherapy utilises the benefits of buoyancy to reduce the amount of weight going through your body. Reducing the weight and removing ground reaction forces allows you to complete exercises which you would otherwise be unable to complete on land due to lack of strength or even due to safety and healing protocols.

The warmth of the water can also reduce pain and assist with the management of swelling.

To learn more about the benefits of hydrotherapy and how it works click here.

How do I start hydrotherapy after surgery?

To get started with hydrotherapy, get in touch or book an appointment online with our experienced physiotherapists.

Our physiotherapists will complete a thorough assessment at ME Physio to ensure that hydrotherapy is safe and the most effective rehabilitation following your surgery. The team at ME Physio work closely with an extensive network of specialists and are able to liaise directly with your surgeon following your operation where required.