What to expect from physiotherapy after surgery

Surgery fixes the structure — the joint, the ligament, the fracture. Physiotherapy is what turns that fixed structure back into a leg or shoulder you can actually trust and use. Patients are often surprised that rehab starts far sooner than they expected, and follows a fairly predictable set of stages.

Stage 1: Protection (the first 1–2 weeks)

Right after surgery, the priority is controlling swelling and pain and protecting the repair while it starts to heal. Sessions at this stage are gentle: managing swelling, light range-of-motion work within limits your surgeon sets, and getting you safely mobile — walking with a frame or crutches, managing stairs, basic daily tasks.

Stage 2: Restoring motion

Once the initial healing has taken hold, the focus shifts to getting the joint moving through its full range again. Scar tissue and swelling both tend to stiffen a joint if it isn't moved deliberately, so this stage is about steady, guided mobility work, not aggressive stretching.

Stage 3: Rebuilding strength

Weeks or months of protecting a joint lets the surrounding muscles weaken significantly. This is usually the longest stage of the programme — progressive strengthening exercises, starting with bodyweight and light resistance and building up as the tissue tolerates more load.

Stage 4: Function and return to activity

The final stage retrains the actual movements you need for work, daily life, or sport — balance, coordination, and confidence in the joint under real-world conditions, not just in a clinic. For athletes this includes sport-specific drills before a full return to play.

What we need from you

• Your surgical notes or discharge summary, so the programme respects any precautions your surgeon has set.
• Consistency with the home exercises between sessions — this matters more than the sessions themselves.
• Honest feedback on pain and swelling, so we can adjust the pace safely.

Most joint-replacement and major orthopaedic patients we see follow a plan across roughly 3 to 4 months, though the exact length depends on the surgery and your starting point. We coordinate directly with your surgeon's precautions at every stage.