Blood clots can be life saving and life threatening in certain situations. When you cut yourself, you need your blood to clot in order to stop the bleeding. But blood can also clot in the body when it shouldn’t and cause serious medical issues. Patients recovering from surgery are at an increased risk of blood clots. This article will talk about how physical therapy can help prevent blood clots after a surgical procedure.
Blood Clotting after Surgery
Blood clots occur when your blood coagulates. When you cut your finger, your blood goes to work clotting the wound to stop the bleeding. If this didn’t happen you would bleed out from even a tiny paper cut. Clotting is an essential bodily function that routinely saves our lives. However, it can also be dangerous in certain circumstances. Sometimes clots form when they aren’t necessary and can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and other issues. Unwanted blood clots can form in your body due to excessive inactivity. If you’re sitting or lying down all day for several days on end (perhaps while you recover from surgery), your blood won’t flow properly and may begin to clot.
Physical Therapy is Essential
Patients are often relegated to their couch or bed in the days and weeks after a surgical procedure. After surgery, the body needs time and rest to repair itself and recover. Many patients assume this means sitting or lying down all day, but remaining completely sedentary after surgery can actually be detrimental to your health – slowing down the healing process and leading to blood clots. That’s why a tailored physical therapy routine is essential to a successful recovery.
OrthoRehab Specialists is a patient-focused physical rehabilitation clinic in the Twin Cities. Our physical therapists have over 25 years of experience working with patients before and after surgery. We offer direct access to physical therapy so you can get the treatment you need when you need it, without all the red tape. If you are concerned about blood clots after your surgery, contact us today at our Edina or Minneapolis clinics to set up your appointment with one of our physical therapists.