Why Smokers and Drinkers Heal Slower After Injury or Surgery?

A ProVital Physiotherapy Guide

At ProVital Physiotherapy Centre Malaysia, we often meet patients wondering why their injury or post-surgery recovery is slower than expected. Two common lifestyle factors that delay healing are smoking and alcohol consumption.

How Smoking Delays Recovery

• Less Oxygen Delivery: Nicotine narrows blood vessels, reducing oxygen to healing tissues.

• Poor Collagen Production: Weak scar tissue forms, slowing tendon, ligament, and skin repair.

• Weaker Bones: Smokers have lower bone density, fracture recovery takes longer.

• Higher Infection Risk: Smoking impairs immune function.

How Alcohol Slows Healing

1. Muscle Repair Reduced: Alcohol blocks protein synthesis, essential for rebuilding muscles.

2. Delays Bone Healing: Alcohol disrupts new bone formation post-fracture.

3. Balance Problems: Alcohol affects coordination, increasing re-injury risk.

4. Chronic Inflammation: Alcohol worsens swelling and slows tissue repair.

Impact on Physiotherapy

At ProVital, we see that smokers and heavy drinkers often:

❌ Heal slower after surgeries or fractures

❌ Gain less muscle strength during rehab

❌ Face longer physiotherapy programs

Good News: You Can Improve Recovery

✔ Quitting smoking! Even short-term may boosts healing.

✔ Reducing alcohol improves tissue repair and rehab results.

✔ Better nutrition & exercise supports faster recovery (ask a qualified nutritionist for guidance).

ProVital’s Advice

At ProVital Physiotherapy Centre, we focus on movement and recovery but we encourage patients to reduce smoking and drinking to maximize rehab outcomes. Your recovery speed depends on your lifestyle choices as much as your physiotherapy sessions.

References:

1.Sørensen, L. T. (2012). Wound healing and infection in surgery: The clinical impact of smoking and smoking cessation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Surgery, 147(4), 373–383. https://doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.2012.5

2.Barnes, M. J. (2014). Alcohol: Impact on sports performance and recovery in male athletes. Sports Medicine, 44(7), 909–919. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-014-0192-8

3.Wong, J., Lam, D. P., Abrishami, A., & Chan, M. T. (2012). Short-term preoperative smoking cessation and postoperative complications: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, 59(3), 268–279. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12630-011-9647-0