Pre and Post Surgical Care
Pelvic surgery places significant demands on the body, and recovery involves more than the surgical procedure alone. Physiotherapy plays an important role both before and after procedures such as hysterectomy, pelvic organ prolapse surgery, bowel surgery, and endometriosis surgery, helping to prepare the body, support healing, and guide a safe return to movement and daily activities.
Through individualized assessment, education, and rehabilitation, physiotherapy supports optimal recovery, reduces the risk of ongoing symptoms, and helps restore function and confidence following pelvic surgery.
What Physiotherapy Involves Before and After Pelvic Surgery
Physiotherapy plays an important role both before and after pelvic surgery, helping to optimize recovery, reduce complications, and support long-term function.
Before surgery, physiotherapy focuses on preparing your body and setting clear expectations for recovery. This may include assessment of pelvic floor and abdominal muscle function, breathing patterns, posture, and movement. Education is a key part of pre-operative care, helping you understand activity modifications, early post-surgical movement, toileting advice, safe lifting strategies, and what to expect during the initial healing phase. Where appropriate, targeted exercises may be prescribed to improve strength, coordination, and overall physical readiness prior to surgery.
After surgery, physiotherapy supports healing and a gradual return to function. Early goals often include restoring gentle movement, managing pain and swelling, supporting optimal breathing and posture, constipation management and protecting healing pelvic tissues. As recovery progresses, physiotherapy focuses on rebuilding pelvic floor and abdominal function, improving mobility and strength, and safely increasing load tolerance for daily activities, work, and exercise.
Rehabilitation is always individualized and guided by surgical timelines, tissue healing, and your personal goals. Physiotherapy also considers nervous system responses to surgery, helping to reduce sensitivity, build confidence with movement, and support a sustainable return to activity.
When to Book a Physiotherapy Appointment
You may benefit from physiotherapy if you:
- Are preparing for pelvic surgery and want to optimise your recovery
- Have been advised to limit activity post-operatively and need guidance on safe movement
- Are experiencing pain, heaviness, bladder or bowel symptoms after surgery
- Are struggling with constipation or bowel changes following surgery
- Feel unsure about returning to exercise, work, or daily activities
- Have ongoing symptoms months or years after pelvic or endometriosis surgery
A full post-operative physiotherapy assessment is usually best completed at around six weeks post-surgery, once early tissue healing has occurred. If you would like support earlier, education and guidance around activity and recovery during the first six weeks can be provided as part of a pre-operative physiotherapy appointment.
Book Your Pre- or Post-Surgical Physiotherapy Assessment
Whether you are preparing for surgery or navigating recovery, our experienced team at For Her Physiotherapy provides compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your surgery, symptoms, and goals. We work collaboratively with your surgical team to support safe recovery, long-term function, and confidence in your body.
Get in Touch
We are here to support you. Reach out for inquiries or to schedule an appointment.
Suite 25, Level 1, 22/36 Scott St,
Toowoomba City QLD 4350
