What to Expect
We're experts at safely getting you into an exercise program that best suits you and your life before surgery. This can reduce your risk of complications and shorten your recovery time.
What about after your surgery?
After the operation, we then help you manage any lingering pain. We can also help you build your strength and further achieve those goals you're working toward.
The payoff?
You'll return to your usual activities faster. And the sooner you're recovered, the sooner you can start living your new, improved life.
First, a specialized bariatric physical therapist measures your starting fitness level. This involves testing your strength, flexibility, balance, mobility and power.
This exam helps pinpoint any physical limitations that keep you from exercising and losing weight. For instance, you may have back pain due to weakened muscles. We use this information to create a personalized exercise program that allows you to gradually improve and decrease any issues or pain. At the same time, this program optimizes your heart and lung health and overall mental performance.
Unlike personal trainers, our bariatric physical therapists are licensed medical professionals. Why is that important? We're qualified to medically supervise you while you exercise, including properly monitoring your heart rate and breathing to ensure you are staying within safe/healthy limits. Then we'll teach you how to do the same.
We're experts in helping manage pain. And we can ensure that while creating a personalized program any other medical conditions you may have are also managed effectively. For instance, some therapists focus on treating diabetes-related problems like decreased feeling in your feet. Others have extensive experience helping people with osteoarthritis decrease their pain and increase their mobility.
And we offer other supports, too. Unless someone has been in your shoes, they can't truly understand how you feel. That's where our BOP support group comes in. Connecting with others who are undergoing bariatric surgery gives you a network of support from people who better understand what you're going through. While it's currently paused due to COVID, we plan to begin offering it again soon.
To get the greatest value from your evaluation, we ask that you do the following:
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Eat a light snack 30 minutes to an hour before your evaluation.
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Complete E-check in through your Luminis Health MyChart account before your first visit. You'll find new patient documents there for you to complete. If you don't have MyChart, arrive 30 minutes before your appointment. You'll need this time to check in and fill out paperwork before seeing your physical therapist.
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Come dressed for exercise. Wear sneakers and comfortable clothes.
