Pre and Post Surgery Therapy
Whether you're recovering from surgery for a specific injury or a more complex condition, we understand that healing can be both physically and mentally demanding. Our goal is to guide you through the healing process with expert care, clear instructions, and ongoing support.
Knee arthroscopy is commonly performed to address a variety of conditions, including ACL reconstruction or repair. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is often torn during sports requiring quick directional changes or impact, such as soccer, football, and basketball. Therapies focus on restoring mobility, reducing pain, and rebuilding strength to support a successful recovery.
Treatment post knee arthroscopy is primarily concerned with reducing inflammation, restoring ROM and building coordination in the muscles during the first stage. The second stage is characterized by building strength and obtaining full ROM and full muscle length. The third stage is characterized by sport specific training, dynamic and even ballistic exercise and preparation to return to full capacity to allow prior level of function.
Recovery from arthroscopy can range from 4 weeks for a simple plica or small meniscus tear debridement to 24 weeks for a full ACL/Meniscus surgery.
Knee Arthroscopy Therapy
Shoulder arthroscopy addresses issues like cartilage or labral tears, bone spurs, ligament sprains, and general joint wear and tear. This procedure is designed to correct internal derangements in the shoulder joint. Post-surgery therapy focuses on mobilizing the shoulder, alleviating pain, and promoting healing for improved function.
Following a shoulder arthroscopy, physical therapy is usually started within 2-4 weeks depending on the procedure performed in surgery. Some procedures need more time to heal while others may require immediate initiation in therapy. If no repair or reconstruction is done, the goals of therapy are to reduce pain and inflammation through modalities, stretching and exercise, build coordination around the injured area through progressive neuromuscular education and exercise, and restore strength and ROM through a progressive exercise regimen and hands on therapy and finally transition to a home exercise program that will address any remaining limitations.
Shoulder Arthroscopy Therapy
Knee replacement surgery replaces worn joint surfaces with advanced metal and plastic components while preserving muscle and ligament function. This procedure often involves cutting and drilling into bone, requiring specialized post-surgery therapy to regain mobility, strengthen muscles, and restore proper knee function.
Starting therapy early is key to recovering from knee replacement surgery. Due to the significant amount of tissue involved in a knee replacement surgery, swelling, pain and limitation in motion is common during the first couple weeks. Treatment will focus on a regular icing regimen, passive and active stretching and simple exercise to ensure the muscle traumatized by surgery keep their tone and connection with the brain. The second stage of recovery is characterized by achieving full ROM through stretching, mobilization, and transition to greater volume of both non-weight bearing and weight bearing exercise.
Knee Replacement Therapy
Hip replacement surgery is less complex than knee replacements, leading to faster and less painful recoveries. The procedure involves replacing the hip joint with advanced materials. Post-surgery therapy is essential for regaining strength, normalizing joint movement, and improving gait patterns.
The initial goals of treatment are the same, reducing pain n swelling, improving ROM and strength however there are usually precautions with limiting ROM at the hip that depend on the approach for putting the replacement in. The posterior approach usually comes with precautions to avoid internal rotation, flexion or crossing the legs for a time. The anterior approach has only minor precautions to not aggressively stretch or progress exercise too quickly. The second stage includes achieving full ROM and improving coordination while allowing the hip to stabilize through healing. The third stage includes progression to prior level of activity, recreation and sport with a transition to an independent home exercise program.
Hip Replacement Therapy
RC (Rotator Cuff) and Labral repairs are significant surgeries requiring extended healing times. During rotator cuff repair, torn muscle fibers are sewn together or reattached to healthy tissue. Post-surgery therapy focuses on safe mobilization, regaining strength, and reducing the risk of reinjury.
In both cases, both labral repair and RC repair have a period of restricted motion and use of the arm to allow the healing process to advance. During this first stage, ROM and simple muscle activation are emphasized to keep the muscles coordinated in preparation for stage 2 where full ROM and baseline strength are established. Stage 3 includes returning to prior level of activity, work, recreation and sport with progressive exercise—culminating in instruction in an independent home exercise program for continued advancement.
RC Repair and Labral Repair
The ACL controls both knee rotation and anterior shifting during movement. Tears typically occur during weight-bearing impacts or high torsion forces. Therapies after reconstruction target pain management, range of motion improvements, and rebuilding joint stability for athletic and everyday activities.
After ACL reconstruction, the patient will be fitted with a brace to stabilize the knee for a short time. Therapy usually starts within a week or two, sometimes even 2-3 days to be sure full ROM is achieved and to minimize muscle loss by starting the retraining process of the quadriceps before more atrophy can occur. The goals of treatment initially are to achieve full extension and retrain the quad to actively contract through full functional ROM. Flexion past 125 degrees is usually avoided for the first stage to prevent compression disruption of the healing bone at the graft ends. Stage two emphasizes full ROM, progressive weight bearing exercise for balance and strength for daily activities. Stage three includes coordination and balance exercise, agility exercise, and full ROM in all planes in all joints of the LE to facilitate return to work, sports, and recreation.
ACL Reconstruction Therapy
Spinal surgeries, including debridement (clean out), fusion, and disc replacement, are often reserved as a last resort when conservative measures fail. Plan Physical Therapy offers specialized rehabilitation programs focusing on post-surgery pain reduction, improving flexibility, and restoring strength for long-term spinal health.
In all these cases, significant increase in spinal stability needs to be achieved to support the area that was originally injured due to the inherent risk of reinjury of a surgically treated spinal segment. Accordingly, rehab through the first stage focuses on decreasing pain and inflammation and restoring motion available given the surgery. The later stages involve significant concentration on muscle stretching of the LE and exercise to stabilize the spine through core strength and positional awareness.