Final answer:
Post-prostatectomy patients should begin physical therapy with heat application to enhance healing, followed by prescribed exercises and icing to decrease inflammation. The therapy focuses on recovering urinary continence and abdominal strength, gradually advancing as the patient heals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Upon discharge, it is essential for a post-prostatectomy patient to follow an appropriate physical therapy plan that often starts with using a heat pack on the operated area. This is a type of warm-up to enhance healing by increasing blood flow to the site. The patient will be advised to perform a series of exercises at home that foster healing and enhance recovery, such as pelvic floor exercises to improve urinary continence and abdominal strengthening exercises to support the pelvic region. These activities should be accompanied by icing sessions to help decrease inflammation and swelling. Over the course of several weeks, as the patient continues to heal, physical therapy will advance, with the physical therapist carefully monitoring the recovery process to adjust the regimen as needed. Upon completion, an exit exam will be carried out to measure and report improvements in the patient's range of motion and overall limb function.