Q&A for Post-surgical Recovery. When, Why, and What to Expect?
Q&A About Your Post-surgical Recovery and Bridging®
After surgery, your muscle coordination and micromovements are often disrupted. These disruptions thwart your recovery efforts. The good news is Bridging® offers unique help for a faster and more complete recovery.
How? Well, before diving into your questions, let’s review common muscle glitches during and after recovery:
- Disrupted Communication Between Muscles: Signals can’t flow properly when muscles are misaligned, too tight, or too loose. Read more
- Strain from Scar Tissue Tightness: Scar tissue and tightness (or looseness) around the surgical site inhibit movement in ways you don’t expect. The entire area has a hard time coordinating within itself, and with adjacent muscles. Read more
These disruptions DO NOT RESOLVE with traditional exercise, stretching, or basic massage. And they are the source of your pain and movement or balance challenges post-surgery.
Bridging® uniquely identifies the specific affected movements, supports them, and resets the muscle coordination. Read on to see exactly how …
How Can Bridging® Help with Recovery?
Your recovery has stages, and Bridging® supports you differently in each one. Here’s how it can help:
Stage 1: The First Weeks
- Provides incision area support, often using peanut balls, especially following abdominal surgeries. The support relaxes the traumatized muscles so they can better work together. The added support also results in reduced swelling near the surgical area, easing movement and sleep.
- Is able to re-center tight neck muscles often disrupted by anesthesia positioning. This improves sleep comfort.
Stage 2: Stitches Are Out (4–6 Weeks)
Addresses lingering discomfort and movement issues by:
- Restoring communication between the surgical area muscles and adjacent muscles. This is done gently, using very subtle movements.
- Reseting muscle activation sequences so movements are automatic and correct, reducing compensations.
Stage 3: Three+ Months Post-Surgery
- Turns off residual protective reactions that muscles had while healing, allowing muscles to relax and return to optimal function.
- Focuses on complex muscle coordination and full range of motion.
Now, let’s get on to your questions that have been bubbling up …
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Bridging® help if my surgery was years ago?
Yes! Muscle disruptions don’t resolve on their own. Bridging® can still help reset and support these relationships, even many years later.
Can I do Bridging® while in physical therapy?
Absolutely. Many clients find that Bridging® accelerates their therapy progress by ensuring their muscles work together for rehab exercises.
What’s the ideal timing for Bridging® after surgery?
Session 1: Within two weeks or as soon as you’re able to leave home.
Session 2: Around 5–7 weeks, after stitches/staples are removed and light exercise is approved by your physician/surgeon.
Session 3: At 3–4 months, focusing on advanced recovery and movement optimization.
Future Sessions: Scar-related disruptions may necessitate tune-ups as needed.
Post-surgical Support Viewed More Systematically
Cutting or moving around muscles is a big deal! Let’s revisit my Physical Activity Formula to see how Bridging® supports specific aspects of your recovery:
Physical Activity = Strength + Balance – Pain – Anxiety
1. STRENGTH
Prevents muscle loss, which is hard to rebuild and essential for metabolism and function. You lose muscle mass every day you are not up and putting your muscles to work.
2. BALANCE
Corrects disrupted balance reactions and strengthens your ability to move confidently.
3. PAIN
Allows your return to activity by resetting physical stress which may also have resulted in new pains from compensating.
4. ANXIETY
Eases fears about pain, falling, or limited mobility. As your muscles function better, you regain the confidence to say “yes” to life again.