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Concern

Post-Operative Rehabilitation in London

A good operation is only half the result — the range of motion and strength you recover depend on rehab that starts at the right time, because what you lose in the first weeks takes far longer to win back. Structured post-operative rehabilitation in London and Henley after hip and knee replacement, ACL reconstruction, shoulder repair, and ankle reconstruction, co-ordinated with your surgeon and measured against your baseline at every visit.

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Post-Operative Rehabilitation

What you're seeing

The concern

Post-operative rehab is one of the most predictable areas of physiotherapy when done well — and one of the most frustrating when done badly. We rehab patients after total hip and knee replacement, ACL reconstruction, meniscal repair, rotator cuff repair, shoulder stabilisation, ankle reconstruction, lumbar discectomy, and abdominal/gynaecological surgery (where MSK rehab is appropriate). Rehab follows the surgeon's protocol where one is supplied, with our own progression and testing layered on top — strength, range of motion, gait, sport-specific function, and return-to-work or return-to-sport criteria. Most early rehab runs weekly for 8 to 12 weeks; full sport return after major reconstruction takes 6 to 12 months depending on the surgery.

Why it happens

What drives it

  • Joint replacement surgery (hip, knee, shoulder) — most commonly after osteoarthritis
  • Ligament reconstruction (ACL, MCL, lateral ankle) — after acute sport injury
  • Tendon repair (rotator cuff, Achilles, distal biceps)
  • Cartilage and meniscal procedures (debridement, repair, transplant)
  • Spinal surgery — discectomy, fusion, decompression
  • Abdominal, gynaecological, or breast surgery where return-to-function physiotherapy is appropriate

Treatment approach

How Tom treats it

Physiotherapy & Sports Therapy

From £77

Post-operative rehab is led by the physiotherapy team — surgeon's protocol layered with progressive loading, range of motion, gait re-training, and structured return-to-function or return-to-sport.

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Soft Tissue Therapy

Price on enquiry

Scar work and soft-tissue mobilisation around the surgical site (from 6 to 8 weeks post-op) restore tissue glide and accelerate range-of-motion gains.

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Osteopathy

Price on enquiry

For cases where compensatory pain patterns develop elsewhere (low back after hip replacement, neck after shoulder surgery), osteopathic case-history-led care addresses the secondary picture.

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FAQ

Common
questions

When should I start physiotherapy after surgery?

Most surgeons want rehab to start within the first 1 to 2 weeks post-op, often sooner for joint replacement or ACL reconstruction. The exact timing comes from your surgeon's protocol — bring it to your first appointment. Starting too late costs range of motion and function that takes much longer to recover; starting at the right time is one of the biggest single drivers of long-term outcome.

Do you co-ordinate with my surgeon?

Yes, where the surgeon supplies a written rehab protocol or wants direct communication. We work with most major London orthopaedic surgeons and their protocols regularly. If your surgeon hasn't given you a protocol we'll proceed using current best-practice guidance for your specific procedure and adapt to the operative notes you bring.

How long does post-op rehab take?

It depends on the surgery. Total hip replacement: 8 to 12 weeks for most independence and function. Total knee replacement: 12 to 16 weeks. ACL reconstruction with return-to-pivoting sport: 9 to 12 months with structured testing. Rotator cuff repair: 6 to 9 months for full return to overhead sport. We'll give you an honest projection at the first appointment based on your specific procedure and starting point.

Will my insurance cover post-op rehab?

Most major UK insurers cover post-op physiotherapy when it is part of the agreed surgical care pathway — Bupa, Cigna, Vitality, WPA, and Simply Health all reimburse with prior authorisation. The number of covered sessions varies by policy; we will help you stretch the cover as far as it sensibly goes and discuss self-funded continuation if more rehab is genuinely needed.

Related Concerns

Low Back Pain
Concern

Low Back Pain

Most low back pain is non-specific and responds well to physiotherapy, exercise, and education — but a previous episode is the single strongest predictor of the next one, so the rehab you skip now is the flare you feel in six months. We deliver NICE-aligned low back pain treatment in London and Henley across our four clinics, without unnecessary imaging, opioids, or specialist referral.

Arthritis & Osteoarthritis
Concern

Arthritis & Osteoarthritis

NICE names therapeutic exercise as first-line care for osteoarthritis at every stage — including while you wait for a joint replacement — yet most people are told only to rest and take painkillers, and the muscle they lose to that advice is exactly what the joint needs. We deliver NICE-aligned arthritis treatment in London and Henley for hip, knee, hand, and spine osteoarthritis: exercise, weight management, and manual therapy combined to improve pain, function, and confidence across our four clinics.

Sports Injuries
Concern

Sports Injuries

The fastest way back onto the pitch is rarely the safest one: returning before strength and symmetry are rebuilt is the strongest predictor of re-injury, which is why we test against measurable benchmarks rather than discharging on "feels OK". Sports injury treatment in London and Henley for hamstring strains, ankle sprains, knee ligament injuries, runner-specific complaints, and racket-sport tendinopathies — by a team with Olympic, Commonwealth, and elite-club experience.

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Tom Astley Physiotherapy • Park Road Pools & Fitness, Crouch End, London N8 8JN

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