Dr. Jared Simonson recently sat down to discuss what he does as a physical therapist and the benefits of post-surgical physical therapy. Dr. Simonson is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and has been practicing in the Treasure Valley for over 10 years. He is certified in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, also known as the McKenzie Method, and he is a Certified Mulligan Practitioner as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
In talking with Dr. Simonson, he stated that while it might come as a surprise, he believes that almost everyone would benefit from physical therapy after a surgery. He also pointed out that there is a difference between needing physical therapy and benefiting from physical therapy. Most surgeries are a choice to help improve overall quality of life, while much fewer are critical for survival. For example, having a knee replacement surgery is probably not going to save someone’s life. However, if the cartilage in the knee is completely worn out, the surgery will most likely improve the person’s quality of life. This can be translated into physical therapy as well. While someone doesn’t need physical therapy in order to save their life, there are innumerable benefits to physical therapy after surgery.
One of the greatest features of physical therapy, according to Dr. Simonson, is time spent with the patient. As is common in our healthcare system, most doctor visits end up being only 10-20 minutes speaking with a healthcare provider. That time tends to also being broken down into speaking with nurses or assistants. This means patients only spending a few minutes with the provider themselves. At Prime Sports Med, Dr. Simonson gets to consistently spend 40-45 minutes, one-on-one, with each patient, two to three times a week.
It is important to note that not every minute is spent performing therapeutic exercises or activities. The first appointment, also known as the evaluation, is almost entirely a discussion with the patient. It is important to find out what surgery took place, why the surgery was needed, what led to the surgery, and also how it was performed in order to best serve the patient. Dr. Simonson is also very invested in the patient’s day-to-day life as well as their goals and what they want to get out of physical therapy. There are also times during the treatment protocol where Dr. Simonson discusses the progress with the patient and if they have to change anything in order to reach the patient’s goals.
Each patient will have their own needs and goals. Patient goals are what drive the type of therapeutic exercises or activities as well as the duration of the treatment protocol. A patient who had a total hip replacement whose goals are to return to their daily walks, being independent when sitting or standing, and being able to safely go up and down the stairs will have a treatment protocol much different than a patient who had the same surgery but wants to return to playing tennis and go hiking.
There are certain circumstances when a surgeon will tell a patient that they don’t need physical therapy or may provide a printout of exercises to do, stating that it’s just as good as physical therapy. While we always respect surgeons and their input, unfortunately, this perspective is not in the best interest of the patient. It is important to ask questions to the right professional regarding your health. If you have questions regarding surgery and if it will benefit you, you should consult a surgeon. In the same sense, if you have questions regarding physical therapy and if it will benefit you, you should consult a physical therapist.
Dr. Simonson ended by reminding us that when it comes down to it, Movement is Medicine.
