When you are recovering from surgery, wearing your brace is not optional. We explain why.
The appeal of joint surgery is the promise of better joint function and a higher quality of life afterwards. Patients are understandably eager to complete rehabilitation and get back to a normal routine. After a hip impingement surgery, a brace is prescribed for two weeks. Sometimes, patients find post-surgical braces uncomfortable or inconvenient—if they try to manage without them sooner, that’s better, right?Unfortunately, if you try to shortcut the time you are prescribed to wear a post-surgical brace, you are jeopardizing the healing process, and could be putting yourself at risk for a failed surgery or re-injury.
The external support provided by a brace serves a very important purpose in the healing process: it limits abnormal movement of the joint and prevents excessive strain on the repair. Although brace immobilization can be inconvenient, it is vital to protect the joint in the vulnerable first few weeks following surgery, and keeps the repair correctly aligned so that it heals properly.
In the past, heavy plaster casts were used to provide necessary immobilization. Today, however, a wide variety of much more comfortable, light-weight rigid plastic and soft elastic braces are available. With a fitted brace for the first several weeks after surgery, patients get the muscular support they need to recover safely, but with more ease of movement than the plaster casts of the past allowed.
At Summit Orthopedics, we offer a team of highly trained specialists to measure and fit a customized brace that is designed to each patient’s specific needs. Our othotist and pedorthist work with your physician and athletic trainer to identify and fit you with the brace type that will protect you while allowing the highest possible level of independence during your recovery. It is possible that you may progress faster or slower than other patients, but it’s important for you to confer with your physician and therapist before making any changes to your recovery protocol. Working together, with the protection that a well-fitted brace provides, we will maximize your surgery outcome and get you safely back to the lifestyle you enjoy.
