What is pre and post surgery physiotherapy?

Pre and post surgery physiotherapy is a two-stage program. Before surgery (prehab), we build strength, flexibility and fitness to prepare your body for the procedure. After surgery, our post surgery physiotherapy restores your range of motion, strength and function so you can return to daily activities safely.

Do you offer knee replacement physiotherapy?

Yes. Our knee replacement physiotherapy program guides you through every phase of recovery after a total or partial knee replacement, focusing on reducing swelling, regaining mobility, rebuilding strength and safely returning you to normal movement.

When should I start post surgery physiotherapy?

Most patients begin post surgery physiotherapy within 24 to 72 hours after major joint surgery such as knee or hip replacement, or within one to two weeks for other procedures. Early, structured rehabilitation helps reduce complications and improves long-term outcomes.

Why is pre-surgery physiotherapy important?

Pre-surgery physiotherapy, or prehab, improves your strength, balance and mobility before your operation. Entering surgery stronger often leads to a faster, smoother recovery and fewer post-operative complications.

How long does post-surgical rehabilitation take?

Recovery time varies by procedure and individual, but most physiotherapy & rehabilitation Oakville programs run several weeks to a few months. After your assessment we create a personalized timeline with clear milestones for your recovery.

Pre & Post Surgery Physiotherapy Oakville

Surgery is one stage of recovery. A structured physiotherapy program before and after your procedure can help prepare your body, restore movement and support a safer return to everyday activities.

At Oakville Physiotherapy Centre, we provide personalized pre and post-surgical physiotherapy in Oakville based on your procedure, current abilities, surgeon’s instructions and individual recovery goals.

Our programs may support patients preparing for or recovering from:

Hip or knee replacement surgery
ACL reconstruction and other knee procedures
Shoulder and rotator cuff surgery
Spinal surgery
Fracture repair
Other orthopaedic procedures

Pre-Surgical Physiotherapy and Prehab

Pre-surgical physiotherapy, commonly called prehab, is designed to help prepare your body before an operation. Following an assessment, your program may focus on improving strength, flexibility, range of motion, balance and overall mobility.

Prehab can also help you become familiar with exercises, mobility aids and movement strategies that may be recommended following surgery. Your program will be personalized according to your condition, procedure and surgeon’s guidance.

Post-Surgery Physiotherapy in Oakville

Post-surgery physiotherapy supports your rehabilitation after an operation. The appropriate starting time and pace depend on your procedure, surgeon’s instructions and individual health needs.

Your post-operative physiotherapy program may include:

Pain and swelling-management strategies
Range-of-motion exercises
Strength and mobility training
Balance and walking practice
Functional movement exercises
Education and a personalized home exercise program
Guidance for returning to work, sport or daily activities

Personalized, Milestone-Based Rehabilitation

Every recovery timeline is different. Our physiotherapists assess your movement, monitor your progress and adjust treatment according to objective findings, surgical precautions and functional goals.

When appropriate and with your consent, we can communicate with your surgeon or healthcare team to help ensure your post-surgical rehabilitation in Oakville remains consistent with your operative instructions.

Whether you need hip replacement physiotherapy, knee replacement physiotherapy, ACL surgery rehabilitation or physiotherapy after spinal surgery, our team provides one-on-one support throughout your recovery process.

Book Your Pre or Post-Surgical Physiotherapy Assessment in Oakville

The Numbers Speak for Themselves

Our surgical rehabilitation outcomes at Oakville Physiotherapy Centre

of patients report significantly improved function after completing their full rehab program

faster return to work compared to unsupervised home recovery alone

better long-term outcomes for patients who complete pre-operative physiotherapy

years of post-surgical rehabilitation experience at Oakville Physiotherapy Centre

Why Prehab Changes Everything

The evidence is clear: patients who complete structured pre-operative physiotherapy enter the operating room stronger, recover faster, and leave hospital sooner. The table below summarises key outcome differences between patients who complete prehab and those who proceed to surgery without it:

Outcome Metric	✓ With Prehab	✗ Without Prehab
Hospital stay (knee replacement)	1.8 days average	2.6 days average
Quadriceps strength at 4 weeks post-op	~72% of contralateral limb	~54% of contralateral limb
Return to independent walking	Week 3–4	Week 5–7
Pain medication use (first 2 weeks)	Significantly reduced	Higher reliance on opioids
Confidence with exercises on Day 1 post-op	High — exercises already familiar	Low — learning while in pain
Risk of stiffness / manipulation under anaesthesia	Lower	Higher

Your Recovery Journey — Phase by Phase

Click each phase below to explore what physiotherapy involves at that stage of your recovery — from prehab through to full return to activity:

Several Weeks Before Surgery

Pre-Operative Physiotherapy and Prehab in Oakville

Build a stronger foundation before your operation with personalized pre-operative physiotherapy in Oakville.

A structured prehab program may help improve strength, mobility, range of motion and confidence before surgery. It also gives you an opportunity to learn the exercises, movement precautions and mobility strategies that may be required during post-operative recovery.

At Oakville Physiotherapy Centre, our pre and post surgery physiotherapy programs are tailored to your procedure, current fitness level, surgeon’s protocol and individual recovery goals. For patients seeking physiotherapy & rehabilitation in Oakville, prehab provides a planned transition from preparation before surgery to rehabilitation afterward.

Benefits and recovery timelines vary according to the procedure, health status and individual response.

Prehab Phase Goals:

✓Improve muscle strength and joint range of motion
✓Help manage existing pain, stiffness and swelling
✓Learn post-operative exercises and movement precautions
✓Support balance, cardiovascular fitness and general conditioning
✓Establish realistic rehabilitation goals with your physiotherapist
✓Practise safe walking, transfers and the use of mobility aids
✓Prepare your home environment for the early recovery period

Surgeries We Specialise In

Select your surgery type to see how our rehabilitation program is tailored specifically to your procedure:

Knee Replacement Physiotherapy in Oakville

Total and Partial Knee Arthroplasty Rehabilitation (TKA / UKA)

Total or partial knee replacement surgery removes damaged joint surfaces and replaces them with prosthetic components. The procedure can help reduce arthritis-related knee pain and improve mobility, but every patient’s recovery experience and timeline are different.

At Oakville Physiotherapy Centre, we provide personalized knee replacement physiotherapy in Oakville for patients preparing for or recovering from total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and partial knee arthroplasty (UKA).

Pre-surgical physiotherapy may help you prepare by strengthening the quadriceps and hamstrings, improving knee range of motion, and practising exercises and movement strategies for after surgery. Following the operation, our total knee replacement rehabilitation programs progress according to your surgeon’s instructions, functional goals, and response to treatment.

During physiotherapy after knee replacement, treatment may focus on controlling swelling, restoring knee movement, rebuilding strength, improving balance, and helping you return to walking, stair climbing, work, and everyday activities. Although many rehabilitation programs progress over approximately 12–16 weeks, some patients may require a shorter or longer recovery period.

What Knee Replacement Physiotherapy May Address:

✓Post-operative knee swelling, stiffness, and reduced mobility
✓Difficulty bending or straightening the knee
✓Challenges with walking, stairs, and rising from a chair
✓Quadriceps and hamstring weakness
✓Altered walking patterns and reduced balance
✓Fear of movement and increased fall risk
✓Scar tightness after the incision has healed
✓Safe progression of home exercises and daily activities

Our post-surgery physiotherapy in Oakville is guided by a detailed assessment and adjusted throughout your recovery to support safe, measurable progress.

Book a Knee Replacement Physiotherapy Assessment in Oakville

Benefits of Structured Surgical Rehab

Hover over each card to learn how our program supports your recovery at every stage:

Faster Recovery

Structured physiotherapy significantly reduces overall recovery time compared to unguided home rest alone.

Complication Prevention

Early mobilisation and guided exercise reduce the risk of DVT, pneumonia, joint stiffness, and muscle atrophy.

Personalised Protocols

Every plan is built around your surgery type, surgeon's protocol, fitness level, and functional goals — no generic programs.

Restored Strength

Progressive resistance training rebuilds muscle mass and functional strength lost during surgery and the acute healing phase.

Pain Management

Manual therapy, modalities, and movement education reduce reliance on pain medication and improve comfort throughout recovery.

Criteria-Based Discharge

You are cleared for sport, work, or full activity only once objective benchmarks are met — keeping you safe and confident.

Surgeon Collaboration

We liaise directly with your surgeon's team, ensuring the physiotherapy protocol aligns precisely with your operative report.

Psychological Support

Fear of re-injury and kinesiophobia are addressed throughout rehab, building the movement confidence essential to full recovery.

What to Expect at Oakville Physiotherapy Centre

From your first assessment to discharge, every step of your care is purposeful and transparent. Click each step to expand the details:

Your first appointment includes a comprehensive review of your operative report, surgeon's protocol, pre-operative baseline, imaging, and your personal recovery goals. We assess your current pain levels, mobility, strength, and any post-operative precautions that must be respected. This session sets the entire roadmap for your rehabilitation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ideally, pre-operative physiotherapy ('prehab') should begin 4–8 weeks before your scheduled surgery date. This window is long enough to meaningfully improve muscle strength, joint range of motion, and cardiovascular conditioning — all of which directly influence how quickly you recover after the operation. Even 2–3 weeks of focused prehab produces measurable benefits. If your surgery has been scheduled on short notice, contact us immediately so we can maximise every available session before your operation date.

For most orthopaedic procedures — including hip replacement, knee replacement, and rotator cuff repair — physiotherapy begins within 24–48 hours of surgery, either in hospital or at an outpatient clinic. The exact start date depends on your surgeon's protocol, the type of surgery performed, and your pain and mobility status. We work directly with your surgical team to ensure our timing and treatment approach align with your operative report and post-operative orders.

Your physiotherapist will assess your surgery type or injury, current fitness level, recovery goals, pain, swelling and mobility before recommending a personalised treatment plan

In most cases, yes. Post-surgical physiotherapy is a covered service under the majority of extended health benefit plans offered through Canadian group insurance providers (Sun Life, Manulife, Great-West Life, Blue Cross, and others). WSIB covers physiotherapy for work-related surgical injuries. We offer direct billing to all major insurers and will verify your coverage before your first appointment. If you have a Health Spending Account (HSA), all physiotherapy services are eligible expenses.

Pre-surgical physiotherapy (prehab) focuses on optimising your physical condition before the operation — building strength, improving joint range of motion, reducing swelling, and teaching you the exercises and movement patterns you will use immediately after surgery. Post-surgical physiotherapy begins after the operation and progresses through carefully staged phases: protecting the healing tissue, restoring motion and strength, rebuilding function, and ultimately returning to your full lifestyle and activities. Both phases are equally important and work together to produce the best possible outcome.

Yes, absolutely. Effective post-surgical rehabilitation requires clear communication between your physiotherapist and your surgical team. We obtain your operative report and surgeon's post-operative protocol before your first appointment, and we provide regular progress updates to your surgeon upon request. If your recovery deviates from the expected timeline — in either direction — we communicate this promptly so that any necessary adjustments to the rehab plan or a follow-up surgical review can be arranged quickly.

Fear of movement — known clinically as kinesiophobia — is extremely common after surgery and is a normal psychological response to pain and the perceived vulnerability of the surgical site. It is also one of the most important barriers to full recovery. Our physiotherapists are trained to identify and address movement-related fear through education, gradual exposure to progressively demanding exercises, and goal-setting that keeps your recovery personally meaningful. You will never be pushed beyond what is safe — but you will be supported in moving further than you think you can.

Pre and Post-Surgical Rehabilitation in Oakville