Why see an osteopath after abdominal or pelvic surgery?

Have you recently undergone abdominal or pelvic surgery and are wondering how to optimize your recovery?

Post-surgical osteopathy can be an effective solution to speed up your healing process.

In this article, we explain why osteopathy is an essential manual therapy after abdominal or pelvic surgery and how it contributes to a faster and more lasting recovery.

Osteopathy: a key asset in regaining mobility after surgery

The osteopath plays a key role in recovery after surgery. Their goal is to restore the body’s flexibility and mobility, particularly in:

• The joints

• The internal organs

• The muscles and fascia

After surgery, internal tissues undergo changes that can affect their mobility and function. It is estimated that 63% to 97% of patients who have undergone abdominal surgery develop post-operative adhesions. Consulting an osteopath can help prevent long-term complications such as abdominal pain, intestinal obstructions, fertility issues (if the surgery is gynecological), joint pain, and more.

How Does Surgery Affect the Body?

After abdominal or pelvic surgery, the body begins a healing process, both externally and internally. However, this process can lead to postoperative adhesions: bands of fibrous tissue that form between organs or between an organ and the abdominal wall. Adhesions are common after surgical procedures such as:

• Cesarean sections

• Laparoscopies (for example, cholecystectomy: gallbladder removal)

• Laparotomies (open abdominal surgeries)

These procedures can disrupt the normal function and mobility of the organs and the body as a whole.

What Is a Postoperative Adhesion?

Why see an osteopath soon after surgery?

Adhesions tend to become stronger over time, which means their consequences will increasingly disrupt the body. This is why it is recommended to consult an osteopath within the first few weeks following surgery.

The benefits of early post-operative osteopathy include:

• Preventing the negative effects of adhesions and post-surgical scars

• Promoting better mobility of the body’s tissues, and therefore better overall function

• Reducing acute short-term discomfort as well as long-term chronic issues

• Avoiding lumbar or pelvic tension, or other discomforts distant from the surgical site

Many people who consulted an osteopath within the first weeks after surgery have reported a significant improvement in their physical comfort.

And if my surgery was several years ago, can osteopathy still help me?

It’s never too late to benefit from osteopathy! Even years after surgery, osteopathic treatment can:

• Release persistent tension

• Improve joint and overall body mobility

• Relieve chronic pain

These effects are significant and can contribute to overall well-being, even long after surgery.

How does osteopathy help release post-surgical adhesions?

Osteopathy is a gentle, non-invasive approach. Adhesions themselves cannot be completely dissolved, but an osteopath can significantly reduce their impact on your physical comfort and posture.

An osteopath can help a person who has undergone surgery to:

• Reduce the impact of adhesions on the body

• Soften scars and make them more comfortable

• Release muscular and fascial tensions

• Restore mobility to surrounding structures

Practical advice after surgery: whether recent or long ago

After recent surgery:

• Consult an osteopath within the first few weeks to optimize tissue recovery and healing, while also reducing pain.
  
  
• Then, schedule regular follow-ups, at least once a year, to help prevent the potential negative effects of adhesions on your body and overall health.

If the surgery was several years ago:

• It is never too late to see an osteopath! Osteopathy can help release more resistant adhesions, which reduces persistent body tensions and improves your mobility. This osteopathic work lowers the risk of chronic pain and long-term musculoskeletal disorders.

Before surgery:

• Consult an osteopath before the procedure, especially for laparoscopies (several small incisions in the abdomen). Although these are less invasive than laparotomies, the use of gas to inflate the surgical area creates sustained pressure that can be difficult to tolerateespecially in a body that is already tense.
  
  
• A preventive osteopathy session will help release pre-existing tensions to prevent them from worsening. This way, you will be better prepared to undergo the surgery and minimize side effects.