Conditions we treat
Post-Op Recovery
Reviewed by Andrew Macdonald, Senior Physiotherapist — AHPRA registered, APA member
Why Physiotherapy After Surgery?
Modern post-operative practice has shifted away from prolonged rest and immobilisation toward early, carefully guided movement — research consistently shows this leads to better long-term outcomes and reduces muscle wasting (atrophy) that a cast or extended rest would otherwise cause. Physiotherapy is where that guided movement happens.
What Post-Op Rehab Involves
Andrew works with patients recovering from a range of orthopaedic procedures, including knee and hip replacements, ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff and shoulder surgery, and other joint or soft tissue procedures. Recovery is broken into structured phases with clear goals and criteria before progressing to the next — moving too fast risks setting back healing, while moving too cautiously delays your return to normal activity unnecessarily.
Early phases focus on managing swelling and pain and restoring basic range of motion. Later phases build strength, control and, where relevant, sport- or activity-specific function, working toward the goals you and Andrew set together at your first post-op appointment.
If you have a procedure scheduled, it’s worth discussing your rehabilitation plan with Andrew beforehand — and where appropriate, some “prehab” work ahead of surgery can also improve your starting point for recovery.
How we treat it
Treatments used for post-op recovery
Manual TherapyManual therapy uses hands-on techniques — soft tissue work, trigger point therapy, joint mobilisation and fascia distortion release — to ease pain, restore movement and speed recovery.
Exercise RehabilitationA structured, progressive exercise programme — tailored to your condition and stage of recovery — to rebuild strength, restore movement and prevent injuries recurring.Frequently asked questions
How soon after surgery should you start physiotherapy?
Often within days, depending on the procedure and your surgeon's protocol. Modern post-operative practice favours early, carefully guided movement over prolonged rest, since research shows this leads to better long-term outcomes and reduces the muscle wasting that extended immobilisation causes.
What happens if you don't do physio after surgery?
Without guided rehabilitation, you risk slower recovery, more muscle wasting, stiffness, and a higher chance of not regaining full strength and range of motion. Structured physiotherapy is where the guided movement that drives good outcomes actually happens.
How long does post-surgical rehab usually take?
This varies significantly by procedure — some soft tissue surgeries need only a few weeks of guided rehab, while major joint replacements or ACL reconstructions can take several months of staged progression. Andrew sets clear goals and criteria for each phase so progress is tracked properly rather than guessed at.
Is it normal to still have pain months after surgery?
Some discomfort during rehabilitation is common as tissues heal and strength rebuilds, but pain that's worsening, or well outside what your surgeon and physiotherapist expect for your stage of recovery, is worth raising with Andrew or your surgeon rather than just pushing through.
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