Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
Following surgery you have to get moving. If you’ve recently had surgery (or have one planned), physiotherapy can help guide your recovery.
What is post-surgical rehabilitation?
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation is a therapist-directed approach to helping you recover from surgery. Keep reading to learn how Post-Surgical Rehabilitation will help to ensure your smooth return to health.
Start with a thorough assessment
Your first visit will consist of a thorough, hands-on assessment as well as education and exercise guidance. On subsequent visits your exercise will be checked and modified as is appropriate.
Receive expert guidance
We’re here to guide your recovery and help you get moving. Your physiotherapist will ensure you know which exercises you should be doing, and also when to progress those exercises to the next level.
Have your questions answered
Surgery is a physically and emotionally traumatic event. You will have questions about your recovery, and our physical therapists are here to answer them in a way that is both informative and easy to understand.
Augment with hands-on treatment
As you progress, we may augment your exercise-based rehab with other hands-on treatments. We commonly help rehabilitate back surgeries, ACL repairs, total hip and knee replacements (arthoplasties), hip fractures, rotator cuff repairs, and many other fractures.
Hear valuable progress feedback
One of the biggest benefits to a Post-Surgical Rehabilitation program is our ability to measure and compare your progress to the average, post-surgical patient. Knowing that you are on track (or behind schedule) is valuable information that we provide.
Feel motivated to recover!
Patients are better at adhering to a rehab program if they are answering to a rehab professional. We will keep you on track and keep you motivated, whether this means increasing or decreasing your exercise in response to how you are doing.
Which operations commonly require rehab?
Post-surgical rehabilitation is commonly required following operations such as:
- Joint replacements, including total hip and knee arthroplasty
- Back surgery, including laminectomy and discectomy
- Fractures, including those of the wrist, foot, or hip
- Joint dislocations, such as those caused by trauma to the shoulder
How long does rehab after surgery take?
Every patient progresses at a different rate. Fortunately, our physiotherapists are skilled at progressing you at a pace appropriate for you.
Furthermore, our individual approach to exercise progression produces the fastest results. Patients are also more likely to follow a rehab program when being held accountable by a therapist.
For motivated patients, post-surgical physio doesn’t have to be very frequent. We can take an approach where our role is to monitor you at arm’s length, rule out any complications, ensure you are on track, and progress you into appropriate, more challenging exercises when the time is right.
Common post-surgical rehab questions
Remember to view our Frequently Asked Questions page for even more answers to common physiotherapy questions.
Who should consider post-surgical physiotherapy?
Everyone who is recovering from surgery will benefit from a rehabilitation program. If you are unsure what exercises to do, when to progress those exercises, or need professional guidance to keep you motivated, post-surgical physiotherapy is for you.
Will my rehabilitation program be difficult?
As medical professionals, our goal is to help you make progress at a pace that's appropriate for you. If you find your exercises are too difficult, we will modify them so you can complete them. Sometimes less is more. Physiotherapists are not personal trainers, so you shouldn't expect to be run ragged at your appointments!
Do I need a doctor’s referral to see a physiotherapist?
No, you do not require a doctor’s note to schedule physiotherapy of any kind, including post-surgical rehabilitation therapy.
Do you provide personalized rehabilitation programs?
Yes. Your post-surgical rehabilitation program will be developed by your physiotherapist specifically around your surgery, abilities, and goals. We do not provide cookie cutter, predetermined exercise schedules.
Get Started with Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
Have questions about Post-Surgical Rehabilitation or any other treatments? Visit the FAQs page or get in touch for help.
