Post-Surgical and Joint Replacement Physical Therapy at Home

Common surgeries and what they involve

Orthopedic surgery is done when pain, damage or injury can no longer be managed without it. Common reasons include worn-out joints from arthritis, torn ligaments or tendons, broken bones, and spinal conditions that press on nerves. The table summarizes common procedures. Details vary, and your surgeon will explain exactly what was done and what you may and may not do.

Why rehabilitation after surgery matters

Surgery fixes the structure, but it also leaves swelling, pain and stiffness. The muscles around the joint often become weak and slow to switch on, and many people move less because it hurts or because they are afraid of harming the repair. Without guided rehabilitation, stiffness and weakness can linger and make walking, stairs and daily tasks harder than they need to be.

A therapist helps you do the right amount at the right time: enough movement to restore motion and strength, and enough protection to respect the healing tissue. That balance is set by your surgeon’s protocol, and your therapist works inside it.

How recovery usually progresses

Timelines depend on the procedure, your health and your surgeon’s protocol, and no one can promise how fast you will recover. In general, rehabilitation moves through overlapping stages.

Many people begin therapy soon after surgery, often in the hospital, and continue at home or in an outpatient setting. Home therapy is helpful early on, when getting out of the house is difficult, because the therapist can practice on your actual stairs, bed, chairs and bathroom.

Exercise guides from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons describe gentle early exercises, such as ankle pumps and knee bending after knee replacement, that are progressed over time under your surgeon’s and therapist’s direction. The American Physical Therapy Association’s clinical practice guideline on total knee arthroplasty supports a structured rehabilitation program tailored to the individual.

Warning signs after surgery

• Blood clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis): swelling, pain or tenderness, warmth or redness in a leg, most often the calf. Call your surgeon or seek care promptly.
• Possible infection: fever, increasing redness, warmth, swelling or drainage at the incision, or pain that is getting worse instead of better. Call your surgeon.
• Sudden loss of motion, a new “pop,” a fall, or a sudden change in the repaired area. Stop and call your surgeon.
• Uncontrolled pain, dizziness, or problems with your medicines. Call your surgeon or physician.

Blood clots are a known risk after major surgery. Your surgical team will tell you what prevention steps apply to you, such as medicines, compression or walking. Moving as instructed is part of the plan.

What physical and occupational therapy each do

Physical therapy: restoring motion, strength and walking

• Measuring pain, swelling, range of motion and strength to track progress
• Gentle range-of-motion work as cleared by the surgeon
• Strengthening that progresses as healing allows
• Walking, stair and transfer training, including use of a walker, cane or crutches
• Balance work and fall-risk screening during recovery
• A written home exercise program for the days between visits

Occupational therapy: getting back to daily life

Occupational therapists focus on the everyday tasks that surgery makes harder and on making your home safer while you heal.

• Safe ways to get in and out of bed, chairs, the toilet and the shower within your precautions
• Dressing, bathing and cooking techniques, including one-handed methods after shoulder or arm surgery
• Equipment such as reachers, shower chairs and raised toilet seats
• Home setup to reduce tripping and strain
• Teaching family members how to help

Supporting services

When your surgeon agrees, these can fit around core rehabilitation.

Massage and stretch therapy may be appropriate later in recovery, but only with your surgeon’s clearance, and not over a healing incision or repair.

What an ELEVATE home visit looks like

• Review: your surgeon’s protocol, precautions and weight-bearing instructions.
• Assessment: pain, swelling, motion, strength, walking and daily tasks.
• Home setup: entrances, stairs, bed and chair heights, bathroom and shower access.
• Plan: goals that matter to you, a written home program, and training for family and caregivers.
• Communication: progress updates shared with your surgical team as appropriate.

ELEVATE serves adults in Oakland and Macomb County, Michigan, with licensed physical and occupational therapists. See Payments & Insurance for details.

Questions families ask

Trusted resources for recovery after surgery

These organizations are the leading sources of education and support for this condition. We are not affiliated with them.

Related guides

Browse every condition we treat on our Conditions We Treat page.

Sources and medical note

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo: Total Knee Replacement Exercise Guide and Total Hip Replacement Exercise Guide.
• Physical Therapist Management of Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Clinical Practice Guideline. Physical Therapy, 2020 (APTA) (full text).
• CDC: About Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots).

This page is educational and is not medical advice. It does not replace your surgeon’s or physician’s care. Always follow your surgeon’s instructions. For chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, or signs of stroke, call 911 immediately.