Abdominal surgeries are procedures performed to any area of the abdominals or organs that rest within.

Surgeries performed in this area can range widely, and require either orthopedic physical therapy or pelvic floor physical therapy as a form of preparation, support, and recovery.

Some surgeries may directly affect the abdominals, while others have indirect effects. Below, we’ve outlined a variety of abdominal surgeries and some examples of each, organized by category:

Surgeries That Benefit From Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

• Gynecological and Childbirth-Related: C-section, hysterectomy, pelvic organ prolapse correction, ectopic pregnancy surgery, diastasis repair, etc.
• Gastrointestinal: Appendectomy, gastrectomy, colectomy, hernia surgeries, etc.
• Urological: Bladder surgery, ureteral surgery, prostatectomy, kidney stone surgeries, etc.
• Reproductive: Vasectomy, erectile dysfunction surgery, orchiectomy, etc.

Surgeries That Benefit From Orthopedic Physical Therapy

• Oncology-Related: Tumor resection, pancreatectomy, hepatectomy, splenectomy, etc.
• Emergency: May involve reconstruction or removal of damaged tissue to the abdominal organs or intestines.
• Other / Cosmetic: Transplants, diastasis repair, abdominal drains, etc.

While these surgeries have been separated for ease of understanding, it is important to note that Hive takes a holistic and comprehensive approach to treatment.

Therefore, while in our care, you may experience a whole-body treatment approach that isn’t limited to just the abdominals or pelvic floor.

Additionally, this is not an all-encompassing list of abdominal surgeries—so even if you don’t see one you relate to, no worries! Physical therapy is very applicable and beneficial to many situations. Feel free to try our free discovery call if you have any questions about what we treat!

Start Healing with Hive

There are a variety of reasons why an individual may need abdominal surgery.

Typically, if an individual experiences significant pain, mobility struggles, or does not show improvement with conservative or non-surgical treatments, surgery may be necessary for their condition.

Additionally, some forms of trauma, emergencies, or severe conditions may prompt surgery sooner.

Physical therapy plays a major role in surgery, allowing patients to make better informed decisions of their need for surgery, as well as help them prepare and recover if the need for surgery becomes apparent.

In some cases, conditions that can usually be treated with physical therapy may become too severe, and require surgical corrections or interventions.

Therefore, in addition to the previously listed examples of common abdominal surgeries, let’s also take a look at some examples of conditions that could require surgery:

Pelvic Floor-Related Conditions:

Pelvic Organ Prolapse: In some more severe cases of pelvic organ prolapse, surgery may be necessary to put organs back into place.

Endometriosis: Some individuals with this condition may have severe pain and symptoms from endometrial tissue growth, adhesions, or cysts associated with the condition.

Diastasis Recti: A common condition in which the abdominals muscles separate, most commonly due to pregnancy. In many cases this can be addressed with physical therapy, but in some more severe situations, noninvasive treatments may fail and thus create a need for surgery.

Orthopedic-Related Conditions:

Hernias: Some types of larger hernias may create significant pain, and can also pose a risk of strangulation (cut off of blood supply).

Abdominal Trauma: Injury to the abdominal area can cause limited mobility and core strength. In severe cases where adhesions are unresolved by physical therapy, surgical interventions may be necessary.

As you can see, there are a variety of situations that may make abdominal surgery necessary. Regardless of the cause, orthopedic physical therapy or pelvic floor therapy can play an essential role in preparing your muscles for the surgery and regaining their function during the healing stage.

Physical therapy can also help you decide if surgical treatment will be suitable for your needs…

• Both orthopedic and pelvic floor physical therapy can help assess your muscle strength and mobility. This can refer to your abdominal strength and posture, or your pelvic floor health and function! This assessment can help patients decide if they may need surgery, or if conventional treatments should be considered first.
• In the case that surgery is deemed necessary, physical therapists can help you better understand what to expect after the procedure. They can curate a preparation and recovery plan for you that will allow you to effectively regain comfort, movement, and function!

Physical therapy is necessary for any type of abdominal surgery. Whether it is a more orthopedic approach or a pelvic floor therapy approach, these physical therapies help individuals better prepare their body for surgery, encourage a better recovery, and restore function more efficiently post-procedure.

Below, we’ve outlined how physical therapy can provide benefits through preparation and during recovery of abdominal surgery.

Preparation

Preparing for abdominal surgery with a physical therapist can help you set expectations and better prepare for the healing stage.

Your Hive physical therapist will teach you about the effects of surgery on your abdominals or pelvic floor, and what to expect after surgery in terms of restoring function and comfort.

Post-operation, you may have trouble performing normal movements and will likely experience dysfunction or tension in the surgical areas. It is important to avoid causing too much strain or tension in those sensitive areas after your procedure.

Your physical therapist will prepare you to modify specific movements to counteract these effects.

You can also expect to learn strategies and techniques to relax your muscles and lessen the strain on them after surgery. This can include changing restroom habits, learning breathing techniques, practicing relaxation, and improving posture!

As you’d expect with physical therapy, your provider will physically prepare your body to lessen the effects of tension and dysfunction. To provide a more manageable recovery period, your physical therapist will look to strengthen your abdominals, hips, low back, and pelvic floor.

Improving the muscular balance of these areas—as well as their flexibility and mobility—will significantly improve your healing experience after surgery.

Your provider may also look to improve the general health of your body. Abdominal surgeries typically affect your core strength and movements, meaning other parts of your body may gain tension while trying to compensate for this.

Therefore, addressing the general health of your whole body may be necessary to support a better healing experience.

All of these strategies will mentally and physically prepare you for the abdominal surgery experience!

Recovery

After your abdominal surgery, your physical therapist will provide treatment to manage your pain, restore function and mobility, and reduce complications. Let’s look at some examples below!

Pain Management: The providers at Hive Therapy and Wellness can provide many pain-relieving treatments, such as manual therapies, temperature therapies, or other modalities that can help ease pain and swelling.

Scar Tissue: Your physical therapist will be able to address your scar tissue with manipulation and mobilizations, helping to maintain mobility, flexibility, and comfort at the site of your incisions. This treatment will also help prevent restrictive adhesions.

Restore Posture and Prevent Tension: Your physical therapist will teach you postures and breathing exercises that will reduce strain on your abdominal or pelvic floor areas, which will be important for maintaining comfort and function of those muscles.

It will also be important to understand the effects of pain guarding to avoid excess tension on your abdominals and related areas.

Restore Function and Strength: You can expect to engage in exercises and stretching that will restore the health, function, and mobility of your abdominals, hips, low back, and pelvic floor.

This will be necessary for regaining core strength and pelvic floor function that will be negatively affected by surgery, as well as prevent other complications from occurring as a result of surgery (prolapse, dysfunction, etc.)

Long-Term Maintenance: To encourage long-term health of your abdominals after surgery, your physical therapist will teach you preventative strategies that will reduce tension and lower the risk of other complications.

This can include maintaining proper postures, modifying exercises and movements, eliminating harmful habits, and practicing relaxation or breathing exercises.

There are many treatment methods that can be beneficial for abdominal surgery. There are numerous abdominal surgeries out there, but our physical therapists will curate your treatment based on your surgery type and individual needs.

While under our care, you can expect any of the following treatments to be included in your treatment plan:

• Neuromuscular re-education 
• Manual therapy
• Exercise prescription 
• Dry needling 
• Cupping 
• Tissue scraping 
• Behavioral modifications 
• Therapeutic activities 
• Electrical muscle stimulation
• Spinal manipulation 
• Therapeutic modalities 
• Biofeedback