Post-Surgical Rehab

What It Is
ACL reconstruction is a surgical procedure to replace a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with a graft, usually from a tendon in your own body or a donor. This surgery is commonly performed after a complete ACL tear, often caused by high-impact activities involving sudden stops, pivots, or awkward landings. While the surgery restores the ligament, the knee requires extensive rehabilitation to regain strength, stability, and proper function.

How Physiotherapy Can Help
Physiotherapy is critical to a successful recovery after ACL reconstruction, with a structured program designed to protect the graft and gradually rebuild strength and function. Treatments include:

• Graft Protection: Early-stage rehabilitation focuses on safe, controlled movements to allow the graft to heal and avoid overstressing it.
• Restoring Range of Motion: Gentle exercises and manual therapy help reduce stiffness and restore full knee mobility.
• Progressive Strengthening: Gradual strengthening of the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and calves is key to providing knee stability and support.
• Gait Training: Ensuring proper walking mechanics and transitioning off crutches to prevent compensatory issues.
• Functional and Sport-Specific Training: Advanced exercises to prepare the knee for high-demand activities, including cutting, pivoting, and jumping.
• Knee Bracing: Braces may be recommended for added support during recovery and as you return to activity.
• Biomechanical Analysis: Correcting movement patterns to prevent re-injury and optimize performance.

Recovery Timeline: Recovery usually takes 6-12 months, depending on the patient’s goals and activity level. Initial phases focus on protecting the graft, while later stages involve functional training to prepare for sports or high-demand activities.

What It Is
Meniscus repair is a surgical procedure to fix a torn meniscus, the C-shaped cartilage in the knee that acts as a cushion and stabilizer. Meniscus tears commonly occur during activities involving twisting, pivoting, or heavy impact on the knee. Unlike meniscus removal procedures (meniscectomy), a repair aims to preserve the meniscus to maintain its function and reduce the risk of arthritis later in life. After surgery, the knee requires controlled rehabilitation to allow the meniscus to heal properly and regain strength and mobility.

How Physiotherapy Can Help
Physiotherapy is essential for recovery after meniscus repair, focusing on protecting the healing tissue while restoring knee function. Treatments include:

• Protecting the Repair: Early rehabilitation involves weight-bearing restrictions and controlled movement to ensure proper healing of the repaired meniscus.
• Restoring Range of Motion: Gentle exercises and manual therapy help reduce stiffness and gradually improve knee flexibility.
• Strengthening Exercises: Progressive strengthening focuses on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves to support the knee and improve stability.
• Gait Training: Ensuring proper walking mechanics and transitioning to full weight-bearing without compensatory patterns.
• Activity-Specific Training: Later stages include functional exercises tailored to your daily activities or sports to prepare the knee for real-world demands.
• Knee Bracing: Braces may be used initially to limit certain movements and protect the repair during the early healing phase.

Recovery Timeline: Recovery generally takes 3-6 months, with restrictions on weight-bearing and certain movements during the first 6 weeks. Full return to activity depends on the extent of the repair and your specific goals.

What It Is
Rotator cuff repair is a surgical procedure to fix a torn tendon in the shoulder. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, providing stability and allowing for a wide range of motion. Tears in the rotator cuff often occur due to repetitive overhead movements, trauma, or degenerative changes with age. Symptoms include pain, weakness, and limited mobility, particularly during activities like lifting, reaching, or throwing. Post-surgical rehabilitation is essential for restoring shoulder function and preventing re-injury.

How Physiotherapy Can Help
Physiotherapy is crucial for recovery after rotator cuff repair, focusing on protecting the healing tendon while restoring strength and mobility. Treatments include:

• Protecting the Repair: Early rehabilitation emphasizes controlled movements to prevent stress on the repaired tendon, often beginning with passive range-of-motion exercises.
• Restoring Mobility: Manual therapy and gradual stretching exercises help reduce stiffness and improve flexibility in the shoulder joint.
• Strengthening Exercises: As healing progresses, targeted exercises focus on rebuilding strength in the rotator cuff, shoulder, and upper back muscles to support joint stability.
• Postural Training: Addressing posture to reduce strain on the shoulder and promote healthy movement patterns.
• Activity-Specific Training: Advanced exercises to prepare the shoulder for functional tasks or sports, depending on your goals.
• Pain and Swelling Management: Techniques like ice therapy and gentle mobilization to control post-surgical discomfort and inflammation.

Recovery Timeline: Full recovery takes approximately 6-9 months, with most patients regaining functional use by 3-4 months. Returning to sports or heavy overhead activities may require up to a year, depending on the severity of the tear and the demands of your activity.

What It Is
Shoulder stabilization surgery is performed to address chronic instability caused by repeated dislocations or subluxations. The procedure repairs torn ligaments or tightens the joint capsule to restore stability and prevent further injury. This surgery is common in athletes and individuals with a history of shoulder trauma.

How Physiotherapy Can Help
Physiotherapy is crucial for restoring strength and mobility after shoulder stabilization. Treatments include:

• Protecting the Repair: Early rehabilitation involves gentle, controlled movements to prevent overstressing the repair.
• Restoring Range of Motion: Passive and active exercises improve flexibility in the shoulder joint.
• Strengthening Exercises: Gradual strengthening of the rotator cuff and surrounding muscles ensures long-term stability.
• Postural Training: Correcting poor posture to reduce stress on the repaired shoulder.
• Activity-Specific Training: Preparing the shoulder for functional or sport-related tasks as you progress.

Recovery Timeline: Full recovery typically takes 4-6 months, depending on the severity of the injury and activity level.

What It Is
Total shoulder replacement is a procedure where the damaged ball-and-socket joint in the shoulder is replaced with artificial components. This surgery is often performed for severe arthritis or significant trauma, helping to relieve pain and restore function in the shoulder.

How Physiotherapy Can Help
Physiotherapy after shoulder replacement focuses on:

• Pain and Swelling Management: Techniques like ice therapy to reduce discomfort in the early stages.
• Restoring Range of Motion: Passive exercises followed by active movements to regain mobility.
• Strengthening Exercises: Gradually rebuilding strength in the surrounding muscles to support the joint.
• Functional Training: Preparing the shoulder for daily activities like lifting or reaching.

Recovery Timeline: Recovery typically takes 3-6 months, with most patients regaining good function by 6 months.

What It Is
Lumbar spine surgeries, such as discectomy or spinal fusion, address conditions like herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or chronic instability in the lower back. These procedures aim to relieve nerve compression, stabilize the spine, and reduce pain.

How Physiotherapy Can Help
Rehabilitation after spine surgery focuses on restoring function and preventing re-injury through:

• Restoring Mobility: Gentle exercises to improve movement in the spine and hips.
• Core Strengthening: Building core muscles to support the lower back and improve stability.
• Postural Training: Correcting alignment to reduce strain on the spine.
• Activity Guidance: Teaching safe movement patterns for bending, lifting, and daily tasks.

Recovery Timeline: Recovery typically takes 3-6 months, with improvements in pain and function seen in the first few weeks.

What It Is
Achilles tendon repair reconnects a torn tendon, which often occurs during activities requiring explosive movements like sprinting or jumping. The Achilles tendon is crucial for walking, running, and jumping, and its recovery requires a structured rehabilitation process to restore strength and prevent re-injury. A protective boot and wedge system is typically used post-surgery to support the tendon as it heals and ensure proper alignment.

How Physiotherapy Can Help
Physiotherapy plays a critical role in a safe and effective recovery after Achilles tendon repair, focusing on:

• Use of the Boot and Wedge System: Guiding you through the gradual process of lowering wedge height to reduce tension on the tendon, eventually transitioning out of the boot.
• Restoring Range of Motion: Controlled exercises to gently improve ankle flexibility as the tendon heals.
• Progressive Strengthening: Building strength in the calf and ankle muscles to support the tendon, starting with isometric exercises and progressing to dynamic movements.
• Balance and Proprioception Training: Improving stability and coordination to prepare for daily activities and prevent re-injury.
• Activity-Specific Training: Gradually reintroducing activities like walking, running, or jumping as your strength and mobility improve.

Recovery Timeline: Recovery typically takes 6-12 months, with most patients progressing to full weight-bearing and removing the boot around 6-8 weeks. A gradual, structured rehabilitation plan ensures the tendon heals properly, allowing a confident return to activity.

What It Is
Fracture fixation stabilizes broken bones using plates, screws, or rods, allowing proper alignment and healing. This procedure is common for fractures in the wrist, ankle, or hip, often resulting from trauma or falls.

How Physiotherapy Can Help
Rehabilitation after fracture fixation focuses on:

• Restoring Mobility: Gentle exercises to regain movement in the affected joint.
• Strengthening Exercises: Rebuilding strength in the muscles around the fracture site.
• Functional Training: Helping you return to daily activities with confidence.
• Gait Training (for Lower Limb Fractures): Ensuring proper walking mechanics to avoid compensations.

Recovery Timeline: Recovery varies based on the location of the fracture but typically takes 3-6 months for most patients.

What It Is
Labral repair is performed to fix tears in the cartilage that stabilizes ball-and-socket joints, such as the hip or shoulder. This injury often occurs due to trauma, repetitive strain, or structural issues.

How Physiotherapy Can Help
Physiotherapy after labral repair includes:

• Protecting the Repair: Controlled movements in the early stages to prevent stress on the joint.
• Restoring Range of Motion: Gentle stretching and mobility exercises to reduce stiffness.
• Strengthening Exercises: Targeting surrounding muscles to stabilize the joint.
• Activity-Specific Training: Preparing the joint for sports or functional tasks.

Recovery Timeline: Recovery typically takes 4-6 months, depending on the joint and activity level.

What It Is
Ankle ligament reconstruction repairs torn ligaments in the ankle, often performed after chronic instability or severe sprains. This surgery restores stability and function in the ankle.

How Physiotherapy Can Help
Physiotherapy focuses on:

• Restoring Range of Motion: Early-stage exercises to improve flexibility in the ankle.
• Strengthening Exercises: Gradually rebuilding strength in the ankle and lower leg.
• Balance and Proprioception Work: Improving stability and reducing the risk of re-injury.
• Functional Training: Preparing the ankle for daily activities or sports.

Recovery Timeline: Full recovery typically takes 4-6 months, with some patients returning to light activity sooner.