Should You Rest or Move After Surgery? Finding Balance is The Key

Rest is always recommended after any surgery. The duration of the recovery process will depend on the surgery performed, especially what body parts or organs were involved and the severity of the surgery. Regardless, the doctor will always recommend rest. By rest, we mostly refer to avoiding physical effort. This is because our body, more specifically our immune system, needs to use all the energy it can get for the recovery process. 

Moreover, some movements can harm the surgery area and, in some cases, delay the healing process. This is particularly important when the surgery involves joints, ligaments, muscles, or bones. For example, if the patient had an arthroplasty, which is a joint replacement procedure, the recovery process might be different from a patient who underwent cataract surgery. The amount of rest and movement their doctors will recommend will differ. For the arthroplasty patient, if the patient applies more pressure on the operated body part on top of what the doctor recommended, it could have negative consequences for the mobility recovery process even in the long term.  

Resting post-surgery is crucial, but the amount of rest will depend on many factors. Despite rest being necessary, it is also well-known that not moving the body for periods can have many negative consequences on our health. Sedentarism can affect our blood pressure, our muscles weaken, our bones lose density, and even our immune system becomes less efficient. This is why even after surgery, we should seek to move our bodies. 

The short answer is yes, you should rest as much as possible after surgery and, yes, you should also try to move your body as much as possible, considering the conditions you are in and the recommendations from the doctor.

Recommendations to rest and get your body moving post-surgery

Here are some suggestions you could follow to understand how to find balance and help your body heal well from surgery. 

• Walking is the best way to fit in some low-impact exercise after surgery. This exercise has multiple benefits which can be especially advantageous for the body’s healing process. Walking boosts the function of the cardiorespiratory and immune systems. Even your digestion improves by walking. The body uses more energy to recover after surgery. This is why you should start slowly and increase gradually as your condition improves.
• Do not do more than what you should. As mentioned before, you could hinder your recovery process, and even get long-term consequences if you disregard your doctor’s recommendations. The best you can do is be patient, rest for as long as you should, and always avoid mental and physical stress.
• It is also vital to follow the post-surgery diet recommendations to give your body the nutrients it needs to heal.

Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201  Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119