Post-Surgery Rehabilitation and Prehab
Post-surgery rehabilitation with our exercise physiologists helps you rebuild strength, movement and confidence after orthopaedic surgery, and prehab helps you prepare before it. Your surgeon performs the operation, while our team focuses on the weeks and months of exercise around it.
We support people from across Sydney's North Shore and Northern Beaches at our St Leonards and Beacon Hill clinics, and online. Programs follow your surgeon's guidance and progress as your body is ready, not only as the calendar says.
Surgeries We Support
Our exercise physiologists work with people before and after a range of orthopaedic procedures, including:
- Knee replacement, total or partial
- Hip replacement
- ACL reconstruction and other knee ligament surgery
- Knee, hip and shoulder arthroscopy
- Shoulder surgery, such as rotator cuff repair, stabilisation or shoulder replacement
- Spinal surgery, such as discectomy, decompression or fusion
Exercise around your operation
Your surgeon is the right person to explain the procedure itself. Our role is the exercise program that surrounds it.
Prehab Before Surgery
The time between booking surgery and the day itself is a useful window. Research on prehab, particularly before knee and hip replacement and ACL reconstruction, suggests that building strength and fitness beforehand may support early recovery for many people.
A prehab program typically considers:
- Strength in the muscles around the affected joint, and on the other side
- Range of motion, where it's safe and comfortable to work on
- General fitness, so the recovery period feels less taxing
- Exercises you'll use in the first weeks after surgery
- Everyday tasks, such as getting up from a chair, managing stairs or using walking aids
Prehab also gives you a chance to meet the people who will guide your rehab, which many people find reassuring.
Post-Surgery Rehabilitation Stages
Every procedure and surgeon has a specific protocol, so the exact plan varies. Most post-surgery rehabilitation moves through three broad stages.
Our Recover program is built around this post-operative pathway. For ongoing knee and hip strength, our Restore program offers a 12-week small group option, twice weekly.
Working With Your Surgeon
Surgeons perform the surgery and set the rules for recovery, such as weight-bearing limits, braces, slings and movement restrictions. We follow those instructions and check in with your surgeon or physiotherapist if anything is unclear.
MTP Health brings orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists and exercise physiologists together in one team, which can make communication between your care providers easier.
If you notice increasing pain, redness, fever, calf pain or swelling, or new numbness, contact your surgeon or GP promptly rather than waiting for your next session.
Following your surgeon's guidance
Weight-bearing limits, braces, slings and movement restrictions come from your surgeon. Your exercise program is built around those instructions and adjusted as recovery progresses.
What Sessions Look Like
Your first visit is a 50-minute initial consultation with a functional assessment. We review your surgery details and precautions, measure where you're starting from and set goals together.
After that, you can choose:
- 1:1 sessions, often preferred early on or after more complex surgery
- Small groups of up to four, with more than 20 group sessions each week from Monday to Saturday
- Online sessions, helpful when travel is difficult in the early weeks
Many people use a mix, and we update your program regularly as you progress. You may be eligible for private health rebates or other funding, and our team can talk you through options.
Related Rehabilitation Services
If your situation is different, these related pathways sit alongside post-surgery rehab:
A Stronger Recovery After Surgery
Whether your surgery is months away or you've just come home from hospital, our exercise physiologists can help you plan the next steps. Book a 50-minute initial consultation at St Leonards or Beacon Hill, or online.
No referral is needed. Bring your surgeon's instructions and we'll build your program around them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When can I start rehab with an exercise physiologist after surgery?
It depends on your procedure and your surgeon's instructions. Some people start within the first few weeks alongside physiotherapy, while others begin once early healing is established. We check your precautions before we begin.
How long before surgery should I start prehab?
Even a few weeks of prehab can be useful. A longer lead-in gives more time to build strength and practise your exercises. Your surgeon can tell you if anything should be avoided beforehand.
Do I still need a physiotherapist after surgery?
Often, yes, particularly in the early stage when hands-on care and close monitoring of the joint matter most. Our physiotherapists and exercise physiologists work together, and the balance usually shifts toward exercise physiology as you get stronger.
Is it normal to have pain during post-surgery rehab?
Some discomfort, stiffness and swelling can be expected as you increase activity. We help you judge what is typical for your stage and adjust the program when needed. Pain that is severe or steadily worsening should be checked by your surgeon or GP.
Do I need a referral from my surgeon?
No referral is needed to see our exercise physiologists. We do need details of your operation and any precautions, so bringing your discharge information or surgeon's instructions helps us plan safely.