Post-Surgical Recovery Therapy in Austin

Why post-op PT matters

After an operation, tissues need time, the right kind of loading, and smart guardrails. Without targeted rehab, people often regain range of motion but not strength symmetry, or they return to activity before the surgical site (and the kinetic chain around it) is ready. That’s how lingering pain and re-injury happen.

Authoritative guidance is aligned on the “why” behind structured post-op rehab:

• Cleveland Clinic: Physical therapy is a combination of “exercises, stretches and movements” that increase “strength, flexibility and mobility,” helping you move more safely and confidently after an injury or surgery. Cleveland Clinic

• AAOS OrthoInfo (rotator cuff example): early phases often emphasize passive motion first, then active and strengthening as the repair tolerates load, with specific timelines from your surgeon. OrthoInfo

• CDC (DVT prevention): “Move around as soon as possible after… surgery” to reduce clot risk; mobility is a safety issue, not just a fitness goal. CDC

Our job is to sequence the right motion and loading at the right time for your procedure—coordinating with surgical protocols while accounting for your history, pain response, and goals.

Procedures we commonly support

Upper extremity

• Rotator cuff repair, biceps tenodesis, labral repair

• Shoulder arthroscopy/decompression, stabilization procedures

• Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) care, elbow arthroscopy

Spine

• Cervical/lumbar microdiscectomy, laminectomy, fusion (per surgeon protocol)

Lower extremity

• ACL/meniscus, MPFL reconstruction, multi-ligament knee

• Total knee/hip arthroplasty (TKA/THA) and partial replacements

• Achilles tendon repair, ankle stabilization, ORIF after fracture

If your procedure isn’t listed, ask—we routinely align to physician protocols and will obtain specifics when needed.

Our approach: protect → restore → rebuild → return

1) Protect the repair and set baselines

We start with your operative report (if available), surgeon precautions, pain management plan, and early mobility rules. Baseline measures include pain, swelling, wound status (if applicable), protected range of motion, strength where allowed, gait or activity tolerance, and risk screens (e.g., DVT/PE red flags per CDC guidance). Early sessions emphasize safety, edema control, protected mobility, and teaching you exactly what is—and isn’t—okay this week. CDC

2) Restore mobility (without over-stretching)

In phase one, range of motion returns under control: passive first when indicated, then active-assist and active as tissues permit. Manual therapy and joint mobilization (graded) reduce pain and capsular stiffness; soft-tissue work improves glide. We use movement dosage (reps/holds, frequency) that honors time-based tissue healing and your surgeon’s protocol—no heroics, just steady gains.

3) Rebuild capacity with progressive loading

Strength and tendon/bone load tolerance return in a progression from isometric → isotonic (concentric/eccentric) → heavy-slow resistance as appropriate. We add balance, proprioception, and neuromuscular re-education so better mechanics become automatic. StatPearls summarizes the principle: therapeutic exercise is prescribed to correct impairments and restore musculoskeletal function. NCBI

4) Return to function, work, and sport

Late-phase rehab maps to your real life: stairs, lifting, overhead reach, squatting with load, or running and change-of-direction. We set criteria for each progression (pain under control, swelling stable, range targets met, strength/limb-symmetry thresholds, task tolerance). For joint replacements, that may be sit-to-stand speed and community ambulation; for ACL, jump/landing symmetry and deceleration control; for rotator cuff, pain-free overhead strength and endurance.

What a typical timeline looks like (example)

Weeks 0–2: Safety & swelling control

• Precautions review, wound care guidance (per surgeon), edema control, breathing/positioning

• Gait training or sling education; protected ROM (passive/assist) where indicated

• Home plan: short, frequent sessions you’ll actually complete

Weeks 2–6: Motion + early activation

• Gradual ROM goals; scapular/hip/core activation; isometrics for safe muscle groups

• Manual therapy for capsular and soft-tissue restrictions as permitted

• Normalize gait and daily mechanics; begin light task-specific drills

Weeks 6–12: Strength + capacity

• Eccentric and heavy-slow resistance progressions (as allowed)

• Balance/proprioception and neuromuscular re-ed (landing mechanics, brace/hinge patterns)

• Workplace or household task simulations; reintroduce low-impact cardio

Weeks 12+: Return to life/sport

• Higher-speed exposures, plyometrics/change-of-direction if relevant

• Endurance and work capacity; final independence plan (maintenance strength + mobility)

Note: Your surgeon’s protocol always rules the timeline. For example, AAOS notes passive exercise commonly begins in the first 4–6 weeks after rotator cuff repair, with active motion and strengthening phased in later. OrthoInfo

Techniques we use (matched to healing stage)

• Manual physical therapy (joint mobilization I–IV, soft-tissue/IASTM) to reduce pain and stiffness and enable ROM targets

• Therapeutic exercise sequenced to tissue healing—starting with isometrics and progressing to eccentrics and heavy-slow resistance as appropriate NCBI

• Neuromuscular re-education for balance, proprioception, coordination, and movement quality

• Gait training and assistive device progression after lower-extremity procedures

• Scar mobility/desensitization and swelling management where indicated

• Activity and load management with clear “green/yellow/red” rules so you don’t guess

How we reduce common post-op risks

• DVT/PE: early mobilization, calf pumps, and walking progressions as permitted. CDC: “Move around as soon as possible after… surgery.” CDC

• Stiffness & arthrofibrosis: early, appropriate ROM dosing and capsular work; emphasis on frequent, low-irritability home sessions

• Strength asymmetry: progressive loading with objective testing, not just “feel”

• Fear of movement: education and graded exposure so confidence returns alongside capacity

Enhanced-recovery research reinforces that coordinated peri-operative rehab reduces complications and shortens length of stay—the same principles apply after you’re home. PubMed Central

Local relevance: Austin routines, Westlake/Rollingwood schedules

• Access: before-work and late-day options near Westlake/Rollingwood; concierge in-home sessions in Austin when clinic travel isn’t feasible in early weeks

• Real-world goals: stairs at the office, commuting MoPac pain-free, getting back to Town Lake walks/runs, returning to the gym without setbacks

• Integrated care: Many clients layer Massage Therapy for recovery and Performance Recovery for assisted mobility and tissue work between PT visits—without violating surgical precautions

For HR leaders planning return-to-work pathways after surgery, see Corporate Wellness & Group Programs.