If you have surgery soon and your joints feel stiff or your muscles tighten with simple tasks, preoperative physiotherapy may help your recovery. Many people in Singapore wait until after surgery to try physio when pain hits the knee, hip, neck, or shoulder. Yet, tuning your body before the operation can speed up recovery, reduce complications, and make rehab smoother.
At The Pain Relief Practice, many patients say, “My knee locks when I squat,” “My back seizes when I stand too long,” or “My shoulder clicks and aches every night.” Going into surgery with deconditioned muscles can slow recovery. Preoperative physiotherapy prepares your joints and muscles before the operation so you wake up stronger, more mobile, and ready to heal.
Why Preoperative Physiotherapy Matters (Especially If You Already Hurt)
If you limp or guard your moves, your body compensates. The muscles near a bad joint can be:
• Weak from underuse
• Tight from over-protection
• Unbalanced because one side works harder than the other
When surgery adds stress, your body fights two battles: recovery from the wound and fixing years of weakness and stiffness. Here, preoperative physiotherapy can help.
Research shows that patients with structured pre-op rehab have better results and shorter hospital stays (source: Journal of Physiotherapy). In Singapore, patients report:
• Less post-op pain
• Easier standing, walking, and stair climbing
• A faster return to work and daily routines
• Reduced fear of movement
If you face joint replacement, spine surgery, ligament repair, or other major operations, preparing beforehand is a smart investment.
How Preoperative Physiotherapy Speeds Up Recovery
At The Pain Relief Practice, preoperative physiotherapy targets four key areas:
1. Strengthening the Right Muscles Before the Op
Pain makes you “switch off” some muscles. You may note:
• A shrinking thigh near a painful knee
• One leg feeling weaker on stairs
• A shoulder that feels “dead” when you lift it
Before surgery, we target these muscles. For example:
• For knee/hip surgery – we work the quadriceps, glutes, and core.
• For shoulder surgery – we work the rotator cuff and scapular stabilisers.
• For spine surgery – we work the deep core, hip stabilisers, and postural muscles.
This pre-loading of strength helps post-surgery muscles wake up faster. They then support the healing joint instead of giving in to pain and swelling.
2. Improving Range of Motion and Reducing Stiffness
A jammed-up joint before surgery often means more stiffness after. If you feel:
• Tightness when you straighten your knee
• A hard stop when you turn your neck
• Trouble raising your arm above shoulder height
Your physiotherapist will work on:
• Gentle joint mobilisations
• Targeted stretches and flexibility drills
• Soft tissue release to ease tight muscles and fascia
The goal is to reach an optimal range of motion before surgery. Better movement now means easier rehab later.
3. Training Balance, Gait and Functional Movements
After surgery, simple acts like walking to the toilet, standing to shower, or getting out of bed may feel very hard. That is why we rehearse these moves first:
• Correct walking patterns—especially if you limp or drag a leg
• Balance drills to get ready for crutches or walkers
• Techniques for going from sit-to-stand and moving in bed
• Stair training at home
We also teach energy-saving strategies so you do not fatique your joints during early recovery.
4. Breathing, Circulation and Complication Prevention
Surgery increases the risk of certain complications. You might see:
• Chest infections
• Blood clots (DVT)
• Excessive stiffness from long periods of rest
Preoperative physiotherapy tackles these with:
• Deep breathing exercises and lung expansion drills
• Leg and ankle exercises to boost circulation
• Education on positions to reduce stiffness and swelling
This acts like a safety net as you go into the operating theatre.
Essential Preoperative Physiotherapy Moves (Common Scenarios)
Your plan depends on your condition and surgery. Here is how we approach common operations:
For Knee Surgery (e.g., ACL, meniscus, total knee replacement)
If your knee feels:
• Swollen and puffy by the end of the day
• Painful when going downstairs or squatting
• Prone to giving way or locking suddenly
Your pre-op program often includes:
• Quad activation drills (quad sets, straight leg raises)
• Glute strengthening (bridges, clamshells, hip abductions)
• Knee extension work to encourage full straightening
• Patella mobility and soft tissue work on the quads and IT band
• Gait retraining to fix limping and uneven loading
For Hip Surgery (e.g., hip replacement, labral repair)
Patients often feel:
• A groin ache when walking or dressing
• A sharp catch when turning or pivoting
• Hip stiffness after long sitting periods
Preoperative physiotherapy focuses on:
• Strengthening the glute medius and maximus to stabilise the hip
• Gentle hip mobility exercises within pain limits
• Core control drills to ease the load on the hip joint
• Training for everyday movements like sit-to-stand and step-ups
For Shoulder Surgery (e.g., rotator cuff repair, stabilisation)
If you notice:
• Night pain that wakes you
• Weakness when lifting objects with your arm
• Clicking, catching, or pinching with overhead reach
We often work on:
• Scapular stabilisation (control of the shoulder blade)
• Safe activation of the rotator cuff muscles
• Postural corrections to reduce impingement
• Strengthening your hand, wrist, and elbow to support daily tasks after surgery
For Spine Surgery (e.g., decompression, fusion, disc surgery)
Patients may complain of:
• Nerve pain that radiates down an arm or leg
• A back that “locks” with simple bending
• A fear of movement because pain flares up
Pre-op work includes:
• Activating the deep core and building spinal stability
• Hip and thoracic mobility to reduce stress on the surgical level
• Teaching safe movement patterns (hip hinges, log rolls, proper lifting)
• Education on pain management and setting realistic expectations
What to Expect in a Preoperative Physiotherapy Session in Singapore
At The Pain Relief Practice, the pre-op pathway has several steps:
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Detailed Assessment
– We check your strength, range of motion, pain triggers, and daily limits.
– We review your surgeon’s notes, imaging (MRI/X-ray), and surgery plan. -
Personalised Pre-Op Programme
– We craft clear exercises tailored to your joint, surgery, and lifestyle.
– We adjust frequency and intensity to match your pain tolerance and schedule. -
Education & Planning
– We explain what to expect in the first 24–72 hours after surgery.
– We guide you on how to position your joint, move safely, and avoid harmful actions.
– We discuss your home setup (stairs, toilets, bed height, chairs). -
Monitoring & Progression
– We adjust your programme as your pain, strength, and confidence evolve.
– We coordinate with your surgeon when needed to keep the plan integrated.
“I Don’t Want to Make Things Worse Before Surgery…”
Many patients worry that pre-surgery exercise will harm the joint or cause more pain. But preoperative physiotherapy does not push your joint to its limit; it is smart conditioning.
We:
• Respect your pain and avoid forcing movements through sharp discomfort
• Adapt when flare-ups occur using alternative exercises and positions
• Use hands-on techniques, modalities, and pacing to keep sessions safe
The aim is controlled strengthening and better mobility, not joint grinding.
Who Benefits Most from Preoperative Physiotherapy?
You may see significant benefits if you:
• Limp or avoid using one limb
• Have long-standing joint stiffness (e.g., you cannot fully bend or straighten)
• Struggle with daily activities such as climbing stairs, standing for more than 10–15 minutes, or rising from low chairs
• Worry about losing independence after surgery
• Want to return faster to sports, the gym, or recreational activities
Both younger active patients and older adults can do better when they go into surgery strong and prepared.
Why Choose The Pain Relief Practice for Preoperative Physiotherapy?
Since 2007, The Pain Relief Practice has helped many people in Singapore with stubborn pain and joint issues. We help you:
• Get rid of stubborn pain
• Restore healthy joint and muscle function
• Boost performance at work, during sports, and in everyday life
Here are some reasons why people choose us:
• Deep musculoskeletal expertise – especially for complex joint and spine issues.
• Trusted by celebrities & national athletes – we treat high-performance individuals who need quick and strong outcomes.
• Integrated pain management – we mix hands-on therapy, targeted exercise, movement retraining, and education.
• People-first care – we listen to your real-life problems, like a locking knee on the MRT, back spasms when carrying kids, or shoulder pain affecting sleep.
Real Results
Celebrities & National Athletes
Find our clinic details and reviews here:
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Practical Tips Before You Start Preoperative Physiotherapy
To get the most out of your pre-op phase:
• Start early – Ideally 4–8 weeks before surgery. Even 2 weeks can help.
• Bring your reports – MRI, X-ray, referral letters, surgery date.
• List your everyday struggles – stairs, driving, sitting at work, moving from floor to standing, carrying kids.
• Be honest about your fears – such as pain, re-injury, or dependence. We address these concerns directly.
• Commit to the home plan – 15–20 minutes a day of focused exercise can make a big difference.
Sample Preoperative Physiotherapy Focus Areas (At a Glance)
Your plan will be custom-made, but many patients include:
- Pain management techniques
- Joint mobility work within safe limits
- Muscle activation and strengthening around the affected joint
- Core and posture training
- Gait, balance, and functional movement practice
- Breathing and circulation exercises
- Education on post-op precautions and milestones
FAQ: Preoperative Physiotherapy in Singapore
-
Is preoperative physiotherapy necessary before joint surgery?
While not mandatory, it is strongly recommended if you have weakness, stiffness, or poor joint function. It prepares muscles, increases mobility, and may reduce hospital stays and post-op issues. -
How many preoperative physiotherapy sessions do I need?
It depends on your condition and surgery date. Many patients benefit from 4–8 sessions along with a home exercise plan. Even 2–3 well-planned sessions can help when surgery is near. -
Does preoperative physiotherapy hurt or worsen my joint pain?
When done properly, it should not worsen your pain. Some muscle soreness is normal, but we avoid pushing through sharp pain. Our goal is controlled strengthening, improved movement, and pain management—not aggravation.
If your surgery is on the way and you struggle with pain, stiffness, or worry about your joint strength, you do not have to go in unprepared. Preoperative physiotherapy at The Pain Relief Practice helps you enter surgery stronger and leave with a clear, fast path back to the life you want.
We are a specialized physio treatment center for savvy people who want real results.
While we are not suitable for someone looking for ‘cheap physiotherapy’ or ‘free exercises available on youtube’, our treatments are affordable and are often claimable with company flexi-benefits, company health insurance, travel insurance, personal accident insurance, and other insurance plans.
Simply whatsapp or call: +65 97821601 and let us know how to help.
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